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THE  BOOK 


Church  Order 


iMioim§B]imiEiimio5! 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 

OF  CALIFORNIA 

LOS  ANGELES 


IN  MEMORY  OF 
MRS.  VIRGINIA  B.  SPORER 


THE  BOOK 


OF 


Church  Order, 


OF 


THE  PRESBYTERIAN  CHURCH 


THE   UNITED    STATES. 


Adopted  1879. 


RICHMOND,  VA. : 

Presbyterian  Committee  of  Publication* 

ST.  LOUIS: 

Presbyterian  Publishing  Co. 


PART  I. 

Form    of    Government. 


CHAPTER  I. 

OP  THE   DOCTRINE   OP  CHURCH   GOVERNMENT. 

I.  The  scriptural  form  of  church  govern- 
ment, which  is  that  of  Presbytery,  is  com- 
prehended under  these  five  heads  of  doctrine 
— viz:  1.  Of  the Churcli ;  2.  Of  its  members ; 
3.  Of  its  officers ;  4.  Of  its  courts;  and  5.  Of 
its  orders. 

II.  The  Church  which  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  has  erected  in  this  world  for  the  g-ath- 
eriug-  and  perfectiuo;  of  tlie  saints,  is  His  visi- 
ble kingdom  of  grace,  and  is  one  and  the 
same  in  all  ages. 

HI.  The  members  of  this  visible  Church 
catholic  are  all  those  persons  in  every  nation, 
together  with  their  children,  who  make  pro- 
fession of  the  holy  religion  of  Christ,  and  of 
submission  to  His  laws. 

IV.  The  officers  of  the  Church,  by  whom 
all  its  powers  are  administered,  are,  accordii  g 
to  the  Scrlp!ures,  Ministers  of  the  Word, 
Ruling  Elders,  and  Deacons. 

V.  Ecclesiastical  jurisdiction  is  not  a  seve- 
ral, but  a  joint  power  to  be  exercised  by 
Presbyters  in  courts.    These  courts  may  have 


2041750 


6  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

jurisdiction  over  one  or  miny  churches  :  but 
they  sustain  such  mutual  relations  as  to 
realize  the  idea  of  the  unity  of  the  Church. 

VI.  The  ordination  of  otiicers  is  ordinarily 
by  a  court. 

VII.  This  scriptural  doctrine  of  Presbytery 
is  necessary  to  the  perfection  of  the  order  of 
the  visible  Church,  but  is  not  essential  to  its 
existence. 


CHAPTER  n. 

OP    THE    CHURCH. 

Section  I. — Of  its  King  and  Head. 

I.  Jesus  Christ,  upon  whose  shoulders  the 
government  is,  whose  name  is  called  Wonder- 
ful, Counsellor,  the  Mio^hty  God,  the  Ever- 
lastinof  Father,  the  Prince  of  Peace ;  of  the 
increase  of  whose  government  and  peace 
there  shall  be  no  end;  who  sits  upon  the 
throne  of  David,  and  upon  his  kingdom,  to 
order  it  and  to  establish  ir  with  judgment  and 
with  justice  from  henceforth,  even  forever; 
having  all  power  given  unto  Him  in  heaven 
and  in  earth  by  the  Father,  who  raised  Him 
from  the  dead,  and  set  Him  on  His  own  riofht 
hand,  fjir  above  all  principality  and  power, 
and  might,  and  dominion,  and  ever}^  name 
that  is  named,  not  only  in  this  world,  but 
also  in  that  which  is  to  come,  and  hath  put  all 
things  under  His  feet,  and  gave  Him  to  be  the 
Head  over  all  things  to  the  Church,  which  is 
His  body,  the  fullness  of  Him  that  filleth  all 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  7 

in  all ;  He  beinof  ascended  up  lar  above  all 
heavens,  that  He  might  fill  all  thino^s.  re- 
ceived gifts  for  His  Church,  and  gave  all 
officers  necessary  for  the  edification  of  His 
Church,  and  the  perfecting  of  His  saints. 

11.  Jesus,  the  Mediator,  the  sole  Priest, 
Prophet,  Kin^-,  Saviour,  and  Head  of  the 
Church,  contains  in  Hiinselt,  by  way  of  emi- 
nency,  all  the  offices  in  His  Church,  and  has 
many  of  their  names  attributed  to  Him  in  the 
Scriptures.  He  is  Apostle,  Teacher,  Pastor, 
Minister  and  Bi?hop,  and  the  only  Lawgiver 
in  Zion.  It  belongs  to  His  Majesty  frorn  His 
throne  of  glory,  to  rule  and  teach  theChun^h, 
through  His  Word  and  Spiiit,  by  the  ministry 
of  men ;  thus  mediately  exercising  His  own 
authority,  and  enforcing  His  own  laws,  unto 
the  edification  and  establishment  of  His 
kingdom. 

HI.  Christ  as  King,  has  given  to  His 
Church,  officers,  oracles  and  ordinances  ;  and 
especially  has  He  ordained  therein  His  system 
of  doctrine,  government,  discipline,  and  wor- 
ship ;  all  which  are  either  expres-ly  set  down 
in  Scripture,  or  by  good  and  necessary  conse- 
quence may  be  deduced  therefrom ;  and  to 
which  things  He  commands  that  nothing  be 
added,  and  that  from  them  naught  to  betaken 
away. 

IV.  Since  the  ascension  of  Jesus  Christ  to 
heaven,  He  is  present  with  the  Church  by  His 
Word  and  Spirit,  and  the  benefits  of  all  His 
offices  are  efiectually  applied  by  the  Holy 
Ghost. 

Section  11. — TJie  Visible  Church  Defined- 

I.  The  visible  Church  before  the  law,  under 
the  law,  and  now  under  the  gospel,  is  one 


8  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

and  the  same,  and  consists  of  all  those  who 
make  profession  of  the  true  religion,  together 
with  their  children. 

II.  This  visible  unity  of  the  borly  of  Christ, 
though  obscured,  is  not  destroyed  by  its  divis- 
ion into  different  denominations  ol  professing 
Christians;  but  all  of  these  which  maintain 
the  word  and  sacraments  in  tlieir  fundamental 
integrity  are  to  be  recognized  as  true  branches 
of  the  Church  of  Jesus  Christ. 

III.  It  is  according  to  scriptural  example 
that  the  Church  should  be  divided  into  many 
particular  churches. 

Section  III. — Of  the   Nature   and  Extent  of 
Church  Power. 

I.  The  power  which  Christ  has  committed 
to  His  Church  vests  in  the  whole  bodv,  the 
rulers  and  the  ruled,  constituting  it  a  spiritual 
commonwealth.  This  power,  as  exercised  by 
the  people,  extends  to  the  choice  of  those 
officers  whom  He  has  appointed  in  His 
Church. 

II.  Ecclesiastical  power,  which  is  wholly 
spirtual,  is  two  fold:  the  officers  exercise  it 
sometimes  severally,  as  in  preaching  the  gos- 
pel, administering  the  sacraments,  reproving 
the  erring,  visiting  the  sick,  and  comforting 
the  afflicted,  which  is  tlie  power  of  order; 
and  they  exercise  it  sometimes  jointly  in 
Church  courts,  after  the  form  of  judgment, 
wh'ch  is  .the  pnver  of  jurisdiction. 

III.  The  sole  functions  of  the  Church,  as  a 
kingdom  and  government  distinct  from  the 
civiT  commonwealth,  are  to  proclaim,  to  ad- 
minister, and  to  enforce  the  law  of  Christ 
revealed  in  the  Scriptures. 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  9 

IV.  The  Chuicli,  with  its  ordinances,  officer?, 
and  courts,  is  tlie  agency  wliicli  Clirist  has 
ordained  tor  tlie  editication  and  government 
of  His  people,  for  the  propa^'ation  of  the  faith, 
and  for  the  evano-elization  ot  the  world. 

V.  The  exercise  of  ecclesiastical  power, 
whether  joint  or  several,  lias  th^:*  divine  sanc- 
tion, when  in  conformity  with  the  statutes 
enaced  by  Christ,  the  Lawo-iver,  and  when 
put  forth  by  courts  or  by  officers  api^ointed 
thereunto  in  His  word. 

Section  IV. — Of  the  Particular'  Church. 

I.  A  particular  church  consists  of  a  number 
of  professing  Christians,  with  their  oftspriiig, 
associated  together  for  divine  worship  and 
godly  living,  agreeably  to  the  Scriptures,  and 
submittintr  to  the  lawful  government  of 
Christ's  kingdom. 

II.  Its  officers  are  the  Pastor,  the  Kuling 
Elders,  and  the  Deacons. 

Ill  Its  jurisdiction  being  a  joint  power,  is 
lodged  in  tlie  hands  of  the  church  session, 
consisting  of  the  Pastor  and  Kuling  Elders. 

IV.  To  the  Deacons  belongs  the  adminis- 
tration of  the  offerings  for  the  poor  and  other 
pious  use5.  To  them,  also  may  ])e  pro])erIy 
committed  the  charge  of  the  temporal  aflairs 
of  the  church. 

V.  The  ordinances  established  by  Christ, 
the  Head,  in  His  Church  are,  prayer;  sinking 
praises:  reading,  expoundiuir.  and  preaching 
the  Word  of  Cod;  administering  the  sacra- 
ments of  baptism  and  the  Lord's  Supper; 
public  solemn  tasting  and  tiianksgiving; 
catechising;  making  offerines  for  tlie  relief 
of  the  poor,  and  for  othei  pious  uses  ;  exer- 
cising discipline ;  and  blessing  the  people. 


10 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 


Vr.  Churches  destitute  of  tlie  official  minis- 
trations ol  the  Word  ouo^lit  not  ther<;loit!,  to 
forsake  theassenibnn<r  of  themselves  together, 
but  should  be  convened  by  the  b^e>sion  on  the 
Lord's  day  and  at  other  suitable  times  lor 
prayer,  praise,  the  reading  of  the  Holy  r-erip- 
lures,  and  exhortation,  or  the  reading  of  a 
sermon  of  some  approved  minister.  In  like 
manner.  Christians  whose  lot  is  cast  in  desti- 
tute regions  ought  to  meet  for  the  worship  of 
God. 

Section  V. — Of  the  Organization  of  a  Particur 
lar   Church. 

I.  In  the  organization  ol  a  church,  the  first 
step  shall  be  to  receive  testimonials  on  behalf 
of  such  of  the  applicants  as  are  members  of 
the  Church,  if  there  be  any ;  and  then  to 
admit  upon  a  profession  of  faith  in  Christ 
such  candidates  as  on  examination  may  be 
found  qualified. 

i  I .  These  persons  should,  in  the  next  place, 
be  requii  ed  to  enter  into  covenant,  by  answer- 
ing the  following  questions  affirmatively,  with 
the  uplilted  hand,  viz  :  "  Do  you,  in  reliance 
on  God  for  strength,  solemnly  promise  and 
covenant  that  you  will  walk  together  as  an 
organized  church,  on  the  principles  of  the 
faith  and  order  of  the  Presbyterian  Church, 
and  that  you  will  study  the  purity  and  har- 
mony of  the  whole  bodyV"  The  presiding 
minister  shall  then  say :  •'  I  now  pronounce 
and  declare  that  you  are  constituted  a  church, 
according  to  the  Word  of  God  and  the  faith 
and  order  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States.  In  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the   Son,  and   of  the  Holy  GUoa^, 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  11 

Iir.  Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons  are  then  to 
be  elected,  ordaiued  and  installed. 


CHAPTER  III. 

OP    CHURCH    MEMBERS. 

I.  The  infant  seed  of  believers  are,  through 
the  covenant  and  by  right  of  birth,  members 
of  the  Church.  Hence,  they  are  entitled  to 
baptism,  and  to  the  pastoral  oversight,  in- 
struction, and  government  of  the  Clmrch, 
with  a  view  to  their  embracing  Christ,  and 
thus  possessing  personally  all  the  benetits  of 
the  covenant. 

n.  All  baptized  persons  are  entitled  to  the 
watchful  care,  instruction  and  government  of 
the  Church,  even  though  they  are  adults  and 
have  made  no  profession  of  fliithin  Christ. 

III.  Ihose  only  who  have  made  a  profession 
of  faith  in  Christ  are  entitled  to  all  the  rights 
and  privileges  of  the  Church. 


CHAPTER  IV. 
OP  CHURCH   officers; 

Section  I. — Of  their  General  Classification, 

I.  Under  the  New  Testament,  our  Lord  a* 
first  collect<d  His  people  out  of  different 
nations,  and  united  tliem  to  the  household  of 
fuith  by  the  mission  ot  extraordinary  officers, 


12 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 


endued  with  miraculous  gilts,  which  have 
lon«-  since  ceased. 

II.  Tlie  wliole  polity  of  the  Church  con- 
sists in  doctrine,  government,  and  distribution. 
And  tlie  ordinary  and  perpetual  ofiicers  in  the 
Church  are,  Teacliing  Elders,  or  Ministers  of 
the  Word,  who  are  comnn'ssioned  to  preach 
the  gospel  and  administer  the  sacraments,  and 
also  to  rule;  Ruling  Elders,  whose  office  is 
to  wait  on  government;  and  D(  aeons,  whose 
function  is  the  distribution  of  the  offerings  of 
the  faithful  for  pious  uses. 

III.  No  one  who  holds  office  in  the  Church 
ought  to  usurp  authority  therein,  or  receive 
any  official  titles  of  spiritual  pre-eminence, 
except  such  as  are  employed  in  the  Scriptures. 

Section  II.— Of  the  Minister  of  the  Word. 

I.  This  office  is  the  first  in  the  Church,  both 
for  dignity  and  usefulness.  'Jhe  person  who 
fills  it  has  in  Scripture  different  titles  expres- 
sive of  his  various  duties.  As  he  has  the 
oversight  of  the  flock  of  Christ,  he  is  termed 
Bishop.  As  he  feeds  them  with  spiritual 
food,  he  is  termed  Pastor.  As  he  serves 
Christ  in  His  Church,  lie  is  termed  Minister. 
As  it  is  his  duty  to  be  grave  and  prudent,  and 
an  example  to  the  flock,  and  to  goA'ern  well  in 
the  house  and  kingdom  of  Christ,  he  is  termed 
Presbyter  or  Elder.  As  he  is  the  messenger 
ot  God,  he  is  termed  Angel  of  the  Church. 
As  he  is  sent  to  declare  the  will  of  God  to 
sinners,  and  to  beseech  them  to  be  reconciled 
to  God  thr  ugh  Christ,  he  is  termed  Ambas- 
sador. As  he  bears  the  glad  tidings  of  salva- 
tion to  the  ignorant  and  perishing,  he  is 
termed  Evangelist.  As  he  stands  to  proclaim 
the  gospel,  he  is  termed  Preacher.    As  he  ex- 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  13 

pounrTs  the  Word,  and  by  sound  doctrine  both 
exhorts  and  convinces  the  gainsayer.  lie  ia 
termed  Teacher.  And  as  lie  dispenses  the 
manifold  ffrace  of  God,  and  the  or<linance3 
institured  by  Christ,  he  is  termed  Steward  of 
the  mysteries  of  God.  These  titles  do  not 
indicate  ditferent  grades  of  office,  but  all  de- 
scribe one  and  the  same  officer. 

II.  He  that  fills  this  office  should  possess  a 
competency  of  human  learning,  and  be  blame- 
less in  life,  sound  in  the  faith,  and  apt  to  teach  ; 
he  should  exhibit  a  sobriety  and  holiness  of 
conversation  becoming  the  gospel ;  he  should 
rule  his  own  house  well ;  and  should  have  a 
^ood  report  ot  them  that  are  without. 

HI.  As  the  Lord  has  given  different  gifts  to 
the  Ministers  of  the  Word,  and  has  committed 
to  them  various  worlds  to  execute,  the  Church 
Is  authorized  to  call  and  appoint  them  to 
labour  as  Pastors,  Teachers  and  Evangeii>ts, 
md  in  such  oiher  works  as  may  be  needful  to 
the  Church,  according  to  the  gifts  in  which 
they  excel. 

IV.  When  a  minister  is  called  to  labour  as  a 
Pastor,  it  belongs  to  his  office  to  pray  for  and 
with  his  fiock,  as  the  mouth  of  tlie  people 
unto  God ;  to  feed  the  flock  by  reading,  ex- 
pounding and  preaching  the  Word  ;  to  direct 
the  congr  gation  in  singing  the  praises  of 
God;  to  administer  the  sacraments;  to  bless 
the  people  from  God;  to  cat«-chise  the  chil- 
dren and  youth  ;  to  visit  officially  the  people, 
devoting  especial  attention  to  the  poor,  the 
sick,  the  affiicted,  and  the  dying ;  and,  with 
the  other  Elders,  to  exercise  the  joint  power 
of  government. 

V.  When  a  minister  is  appointed  to  be  a 
teacher  in  a  school  of  diviuit}^  or  to  give  in- 


14  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

struction  in  the  doctrines  and  duties  of  reli- 
gion lo  youth  assembhd  in  a  college  or  uni- 
versity, it  appertains  to  his  ofhce  to  take  a 
pastoral  oversight  ot  those  committed  to  his 
chargo,  and  be  diligent  in  sowing  the  seed  of 
the  Word,  anM  gathering  the  fruit  thereof,  as 
one  who  watches  for  souls. 

VI.  When  a  minister  is  appointed  to  the 
work  of  the  Evangelist,  he  is  commif-sioned 
to  preach  the  Word  and  administer  the  sacra- 
mt^nts  in  foreign  coiii^tries,  frontier  settle- 
ments, or  the  destitute  parts  of  the  Church  ; 
and  to  him  may  be  entrusted  power  to  organ- 
ize churclies,  and  ordain  Euling  Elders  and 
Deacons  therein. 

Vil.  When  a  minister  is  called  to  labor 
through  the  press,  or  in  any  other  like  need- 
ful WDjk.  it  shall  be  incumbent  on  him  to 
make  full  proof  of  his  ministry  by  dissemi- 
nating the  gospel  for  the  edification  of  the 
Church. 

Section  III. —  0/  the  Ruling  Elder, 

I.  As  there  were  in  the  Church,  under  the 
law,  Elders  of  the  people  for  the  government 
ther  eof.  so,  in  the  gospel  Church,  Christ  has 
furnished  others  besides  the  Ministers  of  the 
Word,  with  shifts  and  commission  to  govern 
when  called  thereunto,  which  officers  are 
entitled  Ruling  Elders. 

II.  These  Kuling  Elders  do  not  labor  in  the 
Word  and  doctrine,  but  possess  the  same 
authority  in  the  courts  of  the  Church  as  the 
Ministers  of  the  Word. 

III.  I  hose  who  fill  this  office  ought  to  be 
blameless  in  life  and  sound  in  the  faith;  they 
should  be  men  of  wisdom  and  discretiou; 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  15 

and  by  the  holiness  of  their  walk  and  conver- 
sation, should  be  examples  to  the  flock. 

IV.  Ruling  Elders,  the  immediate  repre- 
sentatives of  the  people,  are  chosen  by  them, 
that  in  conjunction  with  the  Pastors  or  Min- 
isters, they  may  exercise  governmcut  and  dis- 
cipline, and  take  the  oversight  of  the  spiritual 
interests  of  the  particular  church,  and  also 
of  the  Church  generally,  when  called  there- 
unto. It  appertains  to  their  office,  both  seve- 
rally and  jointly,  to  watch  diligently  over 
the  "flock  committed  to  their  charge,  that  no 
corruption  of  doctrine  or  of  morals  enter 
therein.  Evils  which  they  cannot  correct  by 
private  admonition,  they  should  biinof  to  the 
notice  of  the  Session.  They  should  visit  the 
people  at  their  home?,  especially  the  sick; 
they  should  instruct  the  ignorant,  comfort 
the  mourner,  nourish  and  guard  the  children 
of  the  Church ;  and  a'l  those  duties-  which 
private  Christians  are  bound  to  discharge  by 
the  law  of  charity  are  especially  incumbent 
upon  them  by  divine  vocation,  and  are  to  be 
discharged  as  official  duties.  They  should 
pray  with  and  for  the  people  ;  they  should  be 
caretul  and  diligent  in  seekiuif  the  fruit  of 
the  preached  word  among  the  flock :  and 
should  inform  the  pastor  of  cases  of  sickness, 
affliction,  and  awakening,  and  of  all  others 
which  may  need  his  special  att(  ntiou. 

Section  IV. — Of  the  Deacon, 

T.  The  office  of  Deacon  is  set  forth  in  the 
Sciiptures  as  ordinary  and  perpetual  in  the 
Church. 

II.  The  duties  of  this  office  especially  relate 
to  the  care  of  the  poor,  and  to  the  collection 
and  distribution  of  the  offerings  ol  the  people 


16  FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 

for  pious  uses,  under  the  direction  of  the  Ses- 
sion. To  tlie  Deacons,  also,  may  be  properly 
committed  the  mniiugement  of  the  temporal 
affairs  of  the  Church, 

III.  To  this  office  should  be  chosen  men  of 
honest  repute  and  approved  piety,  ^vho  are 
esteemed  lor  their  prudence  and  sound  judge- 
ment, wliose  conversation  becomes  thecjospel, 
and  whose  lives  are  exemplary ;  seeint?  that 
those  dutie?  to  which  all  Christians  are  called 
in  the  way  of  beneficence  are  especially  in- 
cumbent on  the  Deacon  as  an  officer  in  Christ's 
house. 

IV.  A  complete  account  of  collections  and 
distributions,  and  a  full  record  of  proceedings 
shall  be  kept  by  the  Deacons,  and  submitted 
to  the  Session  for  examination  and  approval 
at  least  once  a  year. 

V.  In  churches  where  it  is  impossible  to 
secure  the  appointment  of  a  sufficient  number 
of  Deacons,  the  duties  of  this  office  devolve  on 
the  Rulino-  Elders. 

VI.  Where  it  shall  apj)ear  npedful,  the 
church  Session  may  select  and  appoint  godly 
women  for  the  care  of  the  sick,  of  prisoners, 
of  poor  widows  and  orphans,  and  in  general 
for  the  relief  of  distress. 


CHAPTER  V. 
OF   CHURCH  courts; 

Section  I. — Of  the  Courts  in  General, 

I.  The   Church   is   governed   by   various 
Bourts,  in  regular  *>:radation ;  which  are  all, 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  17 

nevertheless.  Presbyteries,  as  being  composed 
exclusively  of  Presbyters, 

II.  'lliese  courts  are  church  Sessions,  Pres- 
byteries, Synods,  and  the  General  Assembly. 

III.  The  Pastor  is  Moderator  of  the  ^ession. 
The  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery,  the  >Synod, 
and  the  General  Assembly,  shall' be  chosen  at 
each  stated  meeting  of  these  courts ;  ftnd  the 
Moderator,  or  in  case  of  his  absence,  the  last 
Moderator  present,  or,  the  oldest  minister  in 
attendance,  shall  open  the  next  meeting-  with 
a  sermon,  unless  it  be  highly  inconvenient, 
and  shall  hold  the  chuir  until  a  new  Moderator 
be  chosen. 

IV".  The  Moderator  possesses  all  authority 
necessary  for  the  pieservation  of  order,  and 
for  convening  and  adjourninof  the  court,  ac- 
cording to  its  own  ruling.  He  may  also,  on 
any  extraordinary  emergency,  convene  the 
court  by  his  circular  letter  before  the  ordinary 
time  of  meeting.  And  m  case  of  the  failure 
of  the  appointed  meeting,  he  may  convene 
the  court  at  a  suitable  time  and  place. 

V.  It  is  the  duty  of  tlie  Clerk,  whose  con- 
tinnance  in  office  shall  be  durino  the  pleasure 
of  the  court,  besides  recording  the  trans- 
actions, to  preserve  the  records  carefully,  and 
to  grant  extracts  from  them  whenever  prop- 
erly required.  Such  extracts  under  the  hand 
of  the  Clerk,  shall  be  evidence  to  any  ecclesi- 
astical court,  and  to  every  part  of  the  Church. 

VI.  Every  meeting  of  the  Presbytery,  Synod 
and  General  Assembly  shall  be*^  opened  an^ 
closed  with  prayer ;  and  in  closing  the  final 
meeting,  a  psalm  or  hymn  may  be  sung,  and 
the  bei  edictinn  pronounced. 

VII.  The  expenses  of  Ministers  and  Rulingr 
Elders,  in  their   attendance  on  the  courts, 


18  FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 

shall  be  defrayed  by  the  bodies  which  they 
respectively  represent. 

Section   II.  —  Of   the  Jurisdiction  of  Church 
Courts. 

T.  These  assemblies  arc  altogether  distinct 
from  the  jivil  magistracy,  nor  nave  they  any 
iurisdiction  in  polirital  or  civil  affairs.  1  hey 
have  no  power  to  intlict  temporal  pains  and 
penalties ;  but  their  authority  is  in  ail  resp'  cts 
moral  or  spiritual. 

II.  The  jurisdiction  of  church  courts  is  only 
ministerial  and  declarative,  and  relates  to  the 
dootrines  and  precepts  ot  Christ,  to  the  order 
of  ihe  Church,  and  to  the  exercise  of  disd- 
pline.  First,  they  can  make  no  laws  binding 
the  conscience;  but  may  frame  symbols  of 
faith,  bear  testimony  against  error  in  doc- 
trine and  immorality  in  jiractice,  within  or 
without  the  pale  of  the  church,  and  decide 
cases  of  conscience.  Secondly,  they  hava 
power  to  establish  rules  for  the  government, 
discipline,  worship,  and  extension  of  the 
Church,  which  must  "toe  agi'eeable  to  the  doc- 
trines relating  thereto  contained  in  ihe  IScrip- 
tu'es,  the  circumstantial  details  only  of  the^e 
matters  being  lefc  to  the  christian  prudence 
and  wi  dom  of  church  oflHcers  and  courts. 
Thirdly^  they  possess  the  right  of  requiring 
obedience  to  the  laws  of  Christ.  Hence,  they 
admit  those  qualified  to  sealing  ordinances 
and  to  their  respective  offices;  and  they  ex- 
clude the  disobedient  and  disorderly  irom 
their  oflEices.  or  from  sacramenial  ptivileg- s; 
but  the  highe-t  censure  to  which  their 
authority  extends,  is  to  cut  off"  the  contu- 
macious and  impenitent  from  ihe  congre 
gatiou  ot  believers.    Moreover,  they  possess 


FORM  OF   GOVERNMENT.  19 

all  the  administrative  authority  necessary  to 
give  el^ect  to  these  powers. 

Ill  All  cliiirch  courts  are  one  in  nature, 
constitutpd  of  the  same  elements,  possessed 
inherenly  of  the  same  kinds  of  rio-hts  and 
powers,  and  differin^:  only  as  the  Constitution 
may  provide,  ^'et  it  is  according  to  scriptu- 
ral example,  and  needful  to  the  pur-ty  and 
harmony  of  the  whole  Church,  that  dispu'ed 
mat  ers  of  doctrine  and  order,  arising  in  the 
lower  courts,  should  be  relerred  to  the  higher 
courts  for  decision. 

lY.  For  the  orderly  and  efficient  dispatch  of 
ecclesiastical  business,  ii  is  necessarv  that  the 
sphere  of  action  of  each  court  should  be  dis- 
tinctly defi  wed.  'I'he  Session  exercises  juris- 
diction over  a  single  church  ;  the  Presbytery 
over  what  is  common  to  the  Ministers,  Ses- 
sions and  churches  within  a  prescribed  dis- 
trict; the  Synod  over  what  belongs  in  com- 
mon to  three  or  more  Presbyteries,  and  their 
Ministers,  Sessions  and  churches ;  and  the 
General  Assembly  over  such  matters  as  con- 
cern the  whole  Church;  and  the  jurisdiction 
ot  these  courts  is  limited  by  the  express  pro- 
visions of  the  Constitution.  Every  court  has 
the  right  to  resolve  questions  of  doctrine  and 
discipline  i^eriously  and  reasonably  proposed, 
and  in  general  to  maintain  truth  and  right- 
eousness, condemning  erroneous  opinions  and 
practices  which  tend  to  the  injury  of  the 
peace,  purity  or  pro^rress  of  the  Church ;  and 
althoutrh  each  court  exercises  exclusive  origi- 
nal jurisdiction  over  all  matters  specially  be- 
longing to  it,  the  lower  courts  are  subject  to 
the  review  and  control  of  the  higher  courts, 
In  regular  gradation.  Hence,  the>e  courts 
are  not  sepimite  and  independent  tribunals; 


20  FORM  OF  GOVERNMITNT, 

but  they  have  a  mutual  relation,  and  every 
act  of  jurisdiction  is  the  act  of  the  whole 
Church,  performed  by  it  through  the  appro- 
priate organ. 

Section  III. — Of  the  Church  Session. 

I.  The  church  Session  consists  of  the  Pastor 
or  Pastors,  if  there  be  any,  and  the  Kuling 
Elders  of  a  church.  Two  Ruling  Elders,  if 
there  be  so  many,  with  the  Pastor,  if  there  be 
one,  shall  be  necessary  to  constitute  a  quorum. 

II.  In  case  of  the  absence  of  the  Pastor,  or 
when  for  prudi^ntial  reasons  it  may  appear 
advisable  that  some  other  Minister  should 
preside,  such  Minister  belonging  to  the  same 
Presbytery,  as  the  Pastor  with  the  concur- 
rence of  the  Elders  may  designate,  shall  be 
invited  to  preside  in  his  place. 

III.  When  a  church  is  without  a  Pastor,  the 
Moderator  of  the  Session  shall  be  either  the 
Minister  appointed  for  that  purpose  by  the 
Presbytery,  or  one  invited  by  the  Session  to 
preside  on  a  particular  occasion.  But  when 
it  is  inconvenient  to  procure  the  attendance 
ol  such  a  Moderator,  the  Session  may  proceed 
without  it.  In  judicial  casis  this  Moderator 
fehall  always  be  a  member  of  the  same  Pres- 
bytery to  which  the  church  belongs. 

IV.  In  churches  where  there  are  two  or 
more  Pn>;tors,  they  shall,  when  present,  alter- 
nately preside. 

V.  The  church  Session  is  charged  with 
maintaining  the  spiritual  government  ot  the 
church,  for  which  ]»urpose  it  has  power  to 
inquire  into  the  knowledge,  principles  and 
christian  conduct  of  the  church  members 
under  its  care ;  to  censure  those  found  delin- 
quent; to  see  that  parents  do  not  neglect  to 


POEM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  Si 

present  their  children  for  baptism ;  to  receive 
members  into  the  communion  of  the  Church ; 
to  ^-aut  letters  of  dismission  to  other  churches, 
which,  when  given  to  parents,  shall  always 
include  the  names  of  their  baptized  children ; 
to  ordain  and  install  Kulin^  Elders  and  Dea- 
cons on  their  election  by  the  church,  and  to 
require  these  officers  to  devote  themselves  to 
their  work ;  to  examine  the  records  of  the 
proceedings  of  the  Deacois  ;  to  establish  and 
control  Sabbath  schools  and  Bible  classes, 
with  especial  reference  to  the  children  of  the 
Church ;  to  order  collections  for  pious  uses ; 
to  take  the  oversight  of  the  singing  in  the 
public  worship  of  God;  to  assemble  the 
people  for  worship  when  there  is  no  minister ; 
to  concert  the  best  measures  for  promoting 
the  spiritual  interests  of  the  church  and  con- 
gregation ;  to  observ  e  and  carry  out  the  law- 
mi  injunctions  of  the  higher  courts ;  and  to 
appoint  representatives  to  the  Presbyterj''  and 
the  Synod,  who  shall,  on  their  return,  make 
report  of  their  diligence. 

VL  The  Session  shall  hold  stated  meetings 
at  least  quarterly.  Moreover,  the  Pastor  has 
power  to  convene  the  Session  when  he  may 
judge  it  requisite ;  and  he  shall  always  con- 
vene it  when  requested  to  do  so  by  any  two  of 
the  Euling  Elders;  and  when  there  is  no 
Pastor,  it  may  be  convened  by  two  Ruling 
Elders.  The  Session  shall,  also,  convene 
when  directed  so  to  do  by  the  Presbytery. 

VII.  Every  Session  shall  keep  a  fliir  .record 
of  its  proceedings,  which  record  shall  be  at 
least  once  in  every  year  submitted  to  the  in- 
Bpeetion  of  the  Presbytery. 

VII[.  Every  Session  should  keep  a  fair 
record  of  baptisms,  of  those  admitted  to  the 


22  I^ORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

Lord's  table,  of  non-communicating  members, 
and  of  the  deaths  and  dismissions  of  church 
members. 

IX.  Meetings  of  the  Session  sliould  ordi- 
narily be  opened  and  closed  with  prayer. 

Section  IV.— Of  the  Presbytery. 

I.  The  Presbytery  consists  of  all  the  Minis- 
ters and  one  llulinyf  Elder  from  each  church 
within  a  certain  district. 

II.  Every  Kuling  Elder  not  known  to  the 
Presbytery  shall  produce  a  certificate  of  his 
regular  appointment  from  the  Session  of  the 
church  which  he  rcDresents. 

III.  Any  three  Ministers  belonging  to  the 
Presbytery,  together  with  at  lea>t"one  Ruling 
Elder,  being  met  at  the  time  and  place  ap- 
pointed, shnll  be  a  quorum  competent  to  pro- 
ceed to  business. 

IV.  Ministers  seeking  admission  to  a  Pres- 
bytery shall  be  examined  on  experimental 
religion,  .and  also  touching  their  views  in 
tiieology  and  church  government.  If  appli- 
cants come  from  other  denominations,  the 
Presbytery  shall  also  require  th  m  lo  answer 
in  the  atlinnative  the  questions  put  to  candi- 
dates at  their  ordination. 

V.  The  Presbyter3^  shall  cause  to  be  trans- 
c  ibed  in  some  convenient  part  of  the  book  of 
records,  the  obligations  required  ot  Ministers 
at  their  ordination,  which  shall  be  sub>cribed 
by  all  admitted  to  membership,  in  the  follow- 
ing form,  viz:  'I,  A  B,  do  ex  anirno  receive 
and  subscribe  the  above  obligat'on-^  as  a  just 
and  true  exhibition  of  my  faith  and  principles 
and  do  resolve  and  promise  to  exercise  my 
ministry  in  conformity  thereunto." 

VI.  The   Presbytery   has    power    to    re- 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  23 

ceive  and  issue  appeals,  complaints,  and 
references  brouo:lit  before  it  in  an  orderly- 
manner  ;  to  examine  and  license  ca  didates 
for  tlie  lioly  miiistry;  to  r.  c«  ive,  dismiss, 
ordain,  install,  remove,  and  jndo-e  Minis- 
ters; to  review  the  r.  cords  of  church  iSes- 
sious,  redress  whatever  they  may  have 
done  contrary  to  order,  and  take  effectual 
care  that  they  observe  ihe  Constitution  of  the 
Church ;  to  establish  the  pastoral  relation,  and 
to  dissolve  it  at  the  r*  quest  of  one  or  both  of 
the  parties,  or  where  tlie  interests  of  relioioH 
imperatively  demand  it :  to  set  apart  Evange- 
lists to  their  proper  work  ;  to  require  Minis- 
ters to  devote  themselves  diho-ently  to  their 
sacred  callino;-.  and  to  censure  the  delinquent; 
to  see  that  tlie  lawfuliinunctions  of  tlie  higher 
courts  are  obeyed ;  to  condemn  erroneous 
opinions  which  injure  the  purity  or  peace  of 
the  Church  ;  to  vi.-:it  churches  for  the  purpose 
of  inQuiring  into  and  reclressinof  the  evils  that 
may  have  arisen  in  them ;  to  unite  or  divide 
churches,  at  the  request  of  the  members 
thereof;  to  torm  and  receive  new  churches; 
to  take  special  oversifrht  of  vacant  churches; 
to  concert  measures  for  the  enlartrement  of 
the  Church  within  its  bounds ;  in  geueial,  to 
order  whatever  pertains  to  the  spiritual  wel- 
fare of  the  churches  under  its  care ;  to  appoint 
commissioners  to  the  General  Assembly ;  and, 
finally,  to  propose  to  the  Synod  or  to  the  As- 
sembly such  measures  as  may  be  of  common 
advantage  to  the  Church  at  large. 

VII.  The  Pr<  sbytery  shall  kes  p  a  full  and 
lair  record  of  its  proceedings,  and  shall  send 
it  up  to  the  Synod  annually  for  review.  It 
shall  report  to  the  Synod  and  the  General 
Assembly  every  year  the  condition  and  pro- 


3&  PORM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 

gress  of  reliofion  within  its  bounds  during  the 
year;  and  all  the  important  changes  which 
may  have  taken  place,  such  as  the  licensures, 
the  ordinations,  the  receiving  or  dismissing  of 
members,  tlie  removal  of  members  by  death, 
the  union  and  tlie  division  of  churches,  and 
the  formation  of  new  ones, 

VIII.  The  Presbytt  ry  shall  meet  at  least 
twice  a  year  on  its  own  adjournment ;  and 
when  any  emergency  shall  require  a  meeting 
sooner  than  the  time  to  whicli  it  stands  na- 
journed,  the  Moderator,  or,  in  case  of  his  ab- 
sence, death,  or  inability  to  act,  the  Stated 
Clerk  sh;dl,  with  the  concurrence,  or  at  tlie 
request  of  two  Ministers  and  two  Euling  El- 
ders of  different  churches,  call  a  special  meet- 
ing. For  this  purpose  he  shall  give  notice, 
specifying  the  particular  business  of  the  in- 
tended meeting,  to  every  Minister  belonging 
to  the  Presbytery,  and  to  the  Session  of  every 
vacant  church,  in  due  time  previous  to  the 
meeting,  wiiich  shall  not  be  less  than  ten  days. 
And  nothing  shall  be  transacted  at  such  spe- 
cial meeting"  besides  the  particulai'  business 
for  which  the  court  has  been  thus  convened. 

IX.  Ministers,  in  good  standinof  in  other 
Presbyteries,  or  in  any  ecclesiastical  body  with 
which  this  Church  has  estab'ished  corres- 
pondence, being  present  at  any  meeting  of  the 
Pnsbyteiy,  may  be  inviti  d  to  sit  and  deliber- 
ate as  corresponding  members.  Also  Mm-s- 
ters  of  like  standing  in  other  Evan^'elicaJ 
Churches  may  be  invited  to  sit  as  visiting 
brtthren.  In  all  these  cases  n  is  proper  for 
the  Moder  itor  to  in'rodui  e  ihese  Ministers  to 
the  Presbytery,  and  give  them  the  light  baud 
of  fellowship. 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  25 

Section  V. — Of  the  Synod. 

T.  The  Synod  consists  of  all  the  Ministers 
and  onn  Rulino-  Eldf  r  ironi  each  church,  in  a 
district  coniprising  at  ieasr  th  e-  Presbyteries. 
The  qua  itications  lor  membership  la  tlie 
Synod  and  ihe  Presbyt*  ry  are  the  same. 

II.  The  Synod  slia'll  meet  at  least,  once  in 
each  year,  and  any  seven  Ministers  helona-in»' 
to  it  v^  ho  sball  convene  at  the  time  and  place 
of  met-ting-,  witli  at  lea-t  three  Kulino-  Elders, 
shal  be  a  quorum  :  Provid-  d  not  more  than 
three  or  the  said  AJinisters  belong-  to  one 
PresbyIerJ^ 

III.  The  same  rule  a«!  to  corresponding 
members,  which  is  laid  down  with  respect  to 
the  Presbytery,  shad  apply  to  the  Synod. 

IV.  I  he  Synod  has  power  to  receive  and 
issue  all  appeals,  c<  mplnints,  and  references, 
regul>^rly  brought  up  irom  the  Presbyteries; 
to  review  the  records  of  the  Presb \  teries, 
and  redress  whatever  they  may  have  done 
contrary  to  order;  to  take  effectual  care  tint 
thev  observe  the  (Constitution  of  the  Church, 
and  that  they  obey  the  lawful  injunctions 
of  the  higher  courts ;  to  erect  new  Pres- 
byteries, and  unite  or  divide  those  which 
were  before  erected;  to  appoint  Ministers 
t@  such  work,  proper  to  their  office,  as 
as  may  fii'l  under  its  own  particidar  juris- 
diction ;  ill  general,  to  take  such  order  with 
respect  to  the  Presbyteries,  Sessions  and 
Churches  under  its  care  as  may  be  in  con- 
formity with  the  Word  of  God  and  the  estab- 
lished rules  and  may  tend  to  promote  the 
edification  of  the  Church ,  to  concert  meas- 
ures for  promoting  the  pro-perity  and  en- 
largement of  the  Church  within  its  bounds ; 


26  FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 

and,  finally,  to  propose  to  the  General  Assem- 
bly such  measures  hs  may  be  of  common  ad- 
van  tao^e  to  the  whole  ('hurch. 

V.  It  sliail  be  the  duty  of  the  Synod  to  ke^p 
full  and  f.sir  records  ot  its  proceediuf^s,  to  sub- 
mit them  annually  to  the  inspection  of  the 
General  Assembly,  and  to  report  to  it  the 
number  of  its  Presbyteries,  and  of  the  mem- 
bers thereof,  and  in  general,  all  important 
changes  which  may  have  occurred  within  its 
bounds  during  the  year. 

Section  VI. — Of  the  General  Assembly. 

I.  The  General  Assembly  is  the  highest 
court  of  this  Church,  and  represents  in  one 
body  all  the  churches  thereof.  It  bears  the 
title  of  '1'he  General  Assembly  of  the 
Presbyterian  Church  in  thk  Unitkd 
States,  and  constitutes  the  bond  of  union, 
peace  and  correspondence  among  all  its  con- 
gregations and  courts. 

II.  The  General  Assembly  shall  meet  at 
least  annually,  and  shall  consist  of  commis- 
sioners from  the  Presbyteries  in  the  following 
proportion,  viz ;  Every  Presbytery  shall  be 
entitled  to  send  one  Minister  and  one  Ruling 
Elder;  but  if  it  consists  of  more  than  twenty- 
four  ministerial  members,  it  shall  send  an  ad- 
ditional Minister  and  Ruling  Elder. 

III.  Each  Commissioner,  before  his  name 
shall  be  enrolled  as  a  member  of  the  Assem- 
bly, shall  produce  from  his  Presbytery  a  com- 
mission under  the  hand  of  the  Moderator  and 
Clerk  in  the  following  or  like  form,  viz : 

"  The  Presbytery  of  , 

being  met  at  on  the 

day  of  ,  doth 


PORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  27 

hereby  appoint  A.  B.,  Minister  [or  Ruling 
Elder,  a?  the  case  may  be],  and  in  case  of  his 
absence,  then  C.  D.,  Minister  [or  Euling  El- 
der, as  the  case  may  be],  to  be  a  Commissioner 
on  behalf  of  this  Presbytery  to  the  next  Gen- 
eral Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in 
the  United  btates,  to  meet  at  , 

on  the  day  of  A.  D., 

or  wherever  and  whenever  the  said  Assembly 
may  happen  to  sit;  to  consult,  vote,  and  de- 
termine on  all  things  that  may  come  before 
that  body,  according  to  the  principles  and 
Constitution  of  this  Church  and  the  Word  of 
God.  And  of  his  diligence  herein  he  is  to 
render  an  account  at  his  return. 

'*  Signed  hy  order  of  the  Presbytery. 

(C.  D.)  Clerk.  (A.  B.)  Moderator. 

IV.  Any  eighteen  ot  these  commissioners, 
of  whom  one-half  shall  be  Ministers,  and  at 
least  five  shall  be  Ruling  Elders,  being  met  on 
the  day  and  at  the  place  appointed,  shall  be  a 
quorum  tor  the  transaction  of  business. 

y ,  The  General  A  ssembly  shall  have  power 
to  receive  and  issue  all  appeals,  references  and 
complaints  regularly  brought  before  it  from 
the  inferior  courts ;  to  bear  testimony  against 
error  in  doctrine  and  immorality  in  practice, 
injuriously  affecting  the  Church ;  to  decide  in 
all  controversies  respecting  doctrine  and  dis- 
cipline ;  to  give  its  advice  and  instruction,  in 
conformity  with  the  Constitution,  in  all  cases 
submitted  to  It ;  to  review  the  records  of  the 
Synods;  to  take  care  that  the  inferior  courts 
observe  the  Constitution  :  to  redress  whatever 
they  may  have  done  contrary  to  order ;  to  con- 
cert measures  for  promoting  the  prosperity 
and  enlargement  of  the  Church  ;  to  erect  new 
Synods;   to  institute    and   superintend   the 


28  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

agencies  necessary  in  the  preneral  work  of 
evan<i;clization  ;  to  appoint  Ministers  to  such 
labors  as  fall  under  i:s  jurisdiction;  to  sup- 
press schismatical  contentions  and  disputa- 
tious, according  to  tlie  rnlos  provided  there- 
for; to  receive  under  its  jurisdiction,  with  the 
consent  of  a  majority  of  the  Presbytei'ies, 
other  ecclesiastical  bodies  whose  organ'ization 
is  conformed  to  the  doctrine  and  order  of  this 
Church;  to  authorize  iSynods  and  Presbyte- 
ries to  exercise  smiilar  power  in  receiving 
bodies  suited  to  become  constituents  of  those 
courts,  and  lying  witliin  tlien-  geogmphical 
bounds  respectively;  to  superintend  the  af- 
fairs of  the  whole  Church ;  to  correspond 
with  other  Churches ;  and  in  general,  to  re- 
commend measnies  for  the  promotion  of 
chanty,  truth  and  holiness  through  all  the 
churches  under  its  care. 

VI.  The  whole  business  of  the  Assembly 
being  finished,  and  the  vote  taken  for  dissolv- 
ing the  present  Assembl}'',  the  Moderator 
Bha'l  say  from  the  chair :  "  By  virtue  of  the 
authoriiy  delegated  to  me  by  the  Chuich.  let 
this  General  Assembly  be  dissolverl,  and  I  do 
hereby  dissolve  it,  and  require  another  Gene- 
ral Assembly,  chosen  in  the  same  manner,  to 
meet  at  at 

on  the  day  of  A. 

D.;"  after  which  he  shall  pray  and  return 
thanks,  and  pronounce  on  those  present  the 
apostolic  benediction. 

Section  VII. — Of  Ecclesiastical  Commissions. 

I.  Commissions  differ  from  ordinary  com- 
mitt<  es,  in  this,  that  while  the  comnii  tee  is 
appointed  simply  t<>  examine,  consid  r.  and 
report,  the  commission  is  authorized  to  delib- 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  29 

erate  upon  and  conclude  the  business  submit- 
ted to  it,  subject,  however,  to  the  review  of 
the  court  appointinof  it.  'i'o  this  end  full  re- 
cords of  its  proceedinc^-  shall  be  submitted  to 
the  court  appointing-  it,  which,  it  approved, 
may  be  entered  on  the  minu^s  of  that  court. 

11.  The  tak'ng  of  testimony  in  judicial  cases, 
the  ordination  of  Ministers,  the  installation  of 
JNlinisters,  the  visitation  of  portions  of  the 
Church  aftected  with  disorder,  and  theor<>'au- 
ization  of  ntw  churches,  may  be  executed  by 
commission.  The  commission  for  the  ordina- 
tion of  a  Minister  shall  always  consist  of  a 
quorum  of  the  court,  but  the  Presbyteiy  itself 
shall  conduct  the  previous  examinations. 

ill.  'J'he  !:?ynod  and  the  General  Assembly 
may,  with  tlie  consent  of  parties,  commit  any 
case  of  trial  coming  before  them  on  appeal  to 
the  judgment  of  a  commission,  composed  of 
others  than  members  of  the  court  from  which 
the  appeal  shall  come  up.  The  commission 
of  a  Synod  shall  consist  ol  not  less  than  fifteen, 
ot  whom  seven  shall  be  Euling  Elders  ;  the 
comniission  of  the  Assembly  of  not  less  than 
twenty-seven,  of  whom  thirteen  shall  be  Rul- 
ing Elders.  In  each  ca.^e,  two-thirds  of  the 
commissioners  shall  be  a  quorum  to  attend  to 
business.  Tln^  commission  shall  try  the  cause 
in  the  manner  prescribed  by  the  Rules  of  Dis- 
cipline; and  in  renderin/  judgment  shall 
make  a  full  statement  of  the  case,  which  shall 
be  submitted  to  the  c  urt  for  its  action  as  its 
judgment  in  the  cause. 

iV.  The  General  Assembly  shall  have  power 
to  commit  the  various  interests  pertaining  to 
the  general  work  of  evangelizati<.)n  to  one  or 
more  commissions. 


30  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

CHAPTER  VI. 

OF    CHURCH    ORDERS. 

Section  I. — Of  the  Doctrine  of  Vocation. 

1.  (J  linary  vocation  to  office  in  the  Church 
is  the  calhng-  of  God  by  the  Spirit,  through 
the  inward  testimony  of  a  good  conscience, 
the  manitest  approbation  of  God's  people,  and 
the  concurring  judgment  of  the  lawful  court 
ot  Christ's  house  according  to  His  Word. 

n.  Since  the  goA'crnment  of  the  Church  is 
representative,  the  right  of  the  election  of 
their  officers  by  God's  people,  eitiier  immedi- 
ately by  their  own  suffrages,  or  mediately 
through  church  courts  composed  of  their 
chosen  representative^,  is  indefeasible.  Nor 
can  any  man  be  placed  over  a  church,  in  any 
office,  without  the  election,  or  at  least  the  con 
sent  of  that  church. 

I([.  Upon  those  whom  God  calls  to  bear 
office  in  His  Church  He  bestows  suitable  gifts 
for  the  discharge  of  their  various  duties. 
Wherefore  every  candidate  for  office  is  to  be 
approved  by  the  court  by  which  he  i?  to  be  or- 
dained. And  it  is  indispensable  that,  besides 
possessing  the  necessary  gifts  and  abilities, 
natural  and  acquiied,  every  one  admitted  to 
an  office  should  be  sound  in  the  faith,  and 
that  his  life  and  conversation  be  according  to 
godliness. 

Section  II. — Of  the  DoctHne  of  Ordination. 

I.  Those  who  have  been  lawfully  called  are 
to  be  inducted  into  their  respective  offices  by 
the  ordination  oi  a  court. 


rORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  31 

II.  Ordination  is. the  authoritative  admis- 
sion of  one  duly  called  to  an  office  in  the 
Chuieh  of  God,  arconinanied  with  prayer  and 
the  imposition  of  hands,  to  which  it  is'proper 
to  add  the  giving  of  ihe  riglit  hand  of  tellow- 
ship. 

11  f.  As  every  ecclesiastical  office,  according 
to  the  Scriptures,  is  a  special  charge,  no  man 
sha  1  be  ordained  unless  it  be  to  the  perform- 
ance of  a  delinite  work. 

Section  III. — Of  the  Election  of  Church  Offi- 
cers.   ■ 

I.  Every  church  shall  elect  persons  to  the 
ofRces  of  Pastor,  Ruling  Elder  and  Deacon  in 
the  following  manner,  viz:  Public  notice 
shall  previousl}'  be  given  b}^  the  Session  that 
the  church  is  to  convent^  at  the  usual  place  of 
public  worship  for  ^xwh  ourpose  :  and  it  shall 
always  be  the  duty  of  the  t^ession  to  convene 
iliem  when  requested  by  a  majority  of  the 
persons  eniitled  to  vote. 

II.  Jtis  imijortant  thatin  ail  these  elections 
a  Minister  siiould  preside;  but  if  the  Session 
tind  it  impracticable,  without  hurtful  de'ay, 
to  procure  ihe  attendance  of  a  Minister,  tie 
election  may  nevertheless  be  heid. 

in.  'J'he  voters  being  convened,  the  Moder- 
ator shall  put  the  question  to  them  whether 
they  are  ready  to  proceed  to  the  election  If 
they  declare  themselves  read}^  the  Moderator 
shall  call  for  nominations,  after  which  the 
election  shall  immc  diately  proceed,  unless  the 
electors  prefer  to  postpone  it  to  a  subsequent 
day;  or  the  e'ection  may  proceed  by  ballot 
without  i;ominations.  Hut  in  every  case  a 
majority  of  all  the  volers  pre.-ent  shall  be  re- 
quired to  elect. 


JW  FOKM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

\V.  All  conuniinicating  members  in  orood 
and  rep:iilar  stjindiiif^,  but  no  others,  are  enti- 
tled to  vote  in  the  election  of  church  officers 
u:  the  chui-clies  to  ^vhich  thej'  are  respect- 
tvely  attached;  and  \vnen  a  majority  of  the 
fJectors  cast  tlieir  votes  for  a  person  for  either 
ot  these  otHces,  he  shall  be  considered 
elected. 

V,  On  the  ejection  of  a  Pastor,  if  it  appear 
that  a  lartr-e  minority  of  the  voters  are  averse 
from  the  candidate  who  has  a  majority  of 
votes,  and  cannot  be  induced  to  concur  in  the 
call,  the  Moderator  shall  endeavor  to  dissuade 
the  majority  from  prosrcuting  it  further;  but 
if  the  electors  be  nearly  or  quite  unanimous, 
or  if  the  majority  shall  insist  upon  their  right 
to  call  a  Pastor,  the  Moderator  in  tliat  case 
shall  proceed  to  draw  a  call  in  due  form,  and 
to  have  it  subscribed  by  them,  certify  in  »•  at 
the  same  time  in  writing  the  number  Tuid  cir- 
cumstMUces  of  tliose  who  do  not  concur  in  the 
«;all.  all  of  which  proceedings  sh  dl  be  laid 
before  the  Piesbytery  to^'ether  with  the  call. 

V  r.  The  call  shall  be  in  the  following  or 
iike  form,  viz : 

The  church  of  ,  being, 

on  sufficient  grounds,  well  satisfied  of  the 
ministerial  qualirications  of  you  , 

and  having  good  hopes  from  our  past  experi- 
p.nce  (or  knowledge)  of  your  labors,  that  your 
ministrations  in  the  go-pel  will  be  profitable 
10  our  spiritual  intere.-ts,  do  earnestly  c;dl 
you  to  undertake  the  pastoral  office  in  said 
ijongregation,  promising  j'ou,  in  thedischaige 
of  your  duty,  all  proper  support,  encournge- 
inenr  and  obedience  in  the  Lord.  And  that 
you  may  be  free  from  woildly  cares  and  avo- 
caiions,  we  hereby  promise  and  oblige  our- 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  33 

selves  to  pay  you  the  sum  of 
in  re£:ular  monthly  (or  quarterly,  or  half- 
yearly,  or  yearly)  payments,  during  the  time 
of  your  being  and  continuing  the  regular 
Pastor  of  this  cliurch. 

In  testimony  whertof  we  have  respectively 
subscribed  our  names  this  day  of 

A.  D. 
Attested  by  A.  B.,  Moderator  of  the  Meeting. 

VII.  But  if  any  church  shall  choose  to  sub- 
scribe its  call  by  the  Kuling  Elders  and  Dea- 
cons, or  by  a  committee,  it  shall  be  at  liberty 
to  do  so.  J?>ut  it  shall,  in  such  case,  be  fully 
certified  to  the  Fresbj^tery  by  the  Minister,  or 
other  person  who  presided,  that  the  persons 
signing  have  been  appointed  for  that  purpose 
by  a  public  vote  of  tlie  church ;  and  that  the 
call  has  been,  in  all  other  respects,  prepared 
as  above  directed. 

Vill.  One  or  more  commissioners  shall  be 
appointed  to  present  and^,prosecute  the_call 
before  the  Presbytery. 

lA.  If  the  call  be  to  a  Minister  or  proba- 
tioner of  another  Presbytery,  the  commis- 
sioners appointed  to  prosecute  the  call  shall 
produce  an  attested  certificate  from  their  own 
Presbytery  that  it  has  been  laid  before  that 
body  and  found  in  order,  and  that  permission 
has  been  granted  them  to  prosecute  it  before 
the  Presbytery  to  which  he  belongs. 

Section  IV — 0/  the  Ordination  and  Installation 

of  Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons^  and  of 

the  Dissolution  of  their 

Official  Relations. 

I.  When  any  person  has  been  elected  to 
either  of  these  ofttces,  if  the  way  be  clear,  and 


34  POUM  OP  GOVERNMENT. 

he  declare  his  purpose  to  acce])t,  the  Session 
shall  appoint  a  day  for  hifi  oidination. 

II.  'J'he  day  havino^  arnvecf.  and  the  Ses- 
sion being  convened  in  the  presence  of  the 
church,  a  sermon  shall  be  preached  if  con- 
venient, after  which  the  pre-idiii"'  Minister 
shall  state  in  a  concise  manner  the  warrant 
and  nature  of  the  ofhce  of  Kuling  Elder,  or 
Deacon,  together  with  thechnracter  proper  to 
be  sustained,  and  the  duties  to  be  fidtilled. 
Having  done  this,  he  shall  propose  to  the  can- 
didate, in  the  presence  of  the  church,  the  fol- 
lowing questions,  viz: 

1 .  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptu'  es  of  the  Old 
and  New  Te-taments  to  be  the  Word  of  God, 
the  only  Infallible  rule  ot  foith  and  practice? 

2.  Do  y»u  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Catecliisms  of 
this  Church,  as  containing  the  system  of  doc- 
ti'ine  taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures? 

3.  Do  yon  approve  of  the  government  and 
discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the 
United  States? 

4.  Do  you  accept  the  office  of  Euling  Elder 
(or  Deacon,  as  the  case  may  be)  in  this  church, 
and  promise  faithfully  to  perform  all  the  du- 
ties thereof? 

5.  Do  you  promise  to  study  the  peace,  unity, 
edification  and  purity  of  the  Clsurch  ? 

'Ihe  Ruling  Elder  or  Deacon  elect  having 
answered  in  the  affirmative,  the  Minister  shall 
address  to  the  members  of  the  church  the  fol- 
lowing questions,  viz : 

Do  you,  the  members  ol  this  church,  ac- 
knowledge and  reci  ive  this  brother  as  a  Rul- 
ing Elder  (or  Deacon),  and  do  you  i)romise  to 
yield  him  all  that  honour,  encourage  ment  and 
obedience  iu  the  Lord,  to  which  liis  office,  ao- 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  35 

cording  to  the  Word  of  God  and  the  Consti- 
tution of  this  church,  entitles  him? 

The  members  of  the  chureli  having  an- 
swered tliis  question  in  the  atfirmative,  by 
holding  up  their  right  hands,  the  Minister 
shah  proceed  to  set  apart  tlie  candidate,  with 
prayer  and  the  lay  ng  on  of  the  liands  ot  the 
fcjession,  lo  the  ottice  ot  IJuling  Eider  (or  Dea- 
con, as  the  case  may  be).  Prayer  bting  ended, 
the  members  of  tlie  Session  (and  the  Deacons, 
if  the  case  be  that  of  a  Deacon)  shall  talce  the 
newly  ordained  officer  b}"  the  hand,  saying,  in 
words  to  this  efF  ct:  "  Wa  give  you  tlie  right 
hand  ot  fellowship  to  tal^e  i-ai  t  in  tlii>  office 
with  us."'  The  Minister  shall  then  say :  '*  I 
now  pronounce  and  declare  that  A.  B.  has 
been  reguhiriy  elected,  ordained  and  installed 
a  Ruling  Elder  (or  Deacon)  in  this  church, 
Hgreeably  to  the  VV^ord  of  God,  and  according 
to  tlie  f.'o'nsti!  ution  of  the  I^resbyterian  Church 
in  the  United  States ;  and  that  a-;  such  he  is 
eniitled  to  all  encouragemei  t,  honour,  and 
obedience  in  the  Lord:  In  the  name  of  the 
Father,  and  of  the  >on,  and  of  the  Holy 
Ghost.  Amen."  After  which  he  shall  give 
to  the  Rul  ng  Elder  (or  Deacon)  and  to  the 
church,  an  exhortation  suited  to  the  occa- 
sion. 

111.  'I  he  offices  of  Ruling  Elder  and  Dea- 
con a?e  perpetual;  nor  can  they  be  laid  aside  at 
pleasure;  nor  can  any  person  be  degraded 
from  either  office  but  by  lieposition  after  reg- 
ular trial.  Yet  a  Ruling  Elder  or  Deacon 
may,  though  chargeab  e  with  neither  her«sy 
nor  immorality,  become  unacceptab  e  in  his 
official  character  to  a  majority  of  the  church 
wliich  he  >erves.  In  such  a  case,  it  is  compe- 
tent for  the  Session,  upon  application,  either 


00  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

from  tlic  olllcer  or  from  tlie  cliurcli,  to  dia- 
eolve  tli(3  relation.  Hut  no  suv.h  aijplicalioa 
from  cither  p;irty  sliall  be  granted  \\itlioat 
alfording  to  tiie  other  party  full  opportunity 
for  statiuiT  objections.* 

IV.  When  a  lUiIing  Elder  or  Deacon  re- 
moves permanently  beyond  the  bounds  of  the 
churcli  wiiich  he  serves,  his  official  rdation 
shall  be  thereby  dissolved,  and  the  tessiou 
shall  rt  cord  the  foct. 

V.  When  a  Ruling  Elder  or  Deacon  who 
has  been  relia«ed  from  his  official  relation,  is 
again  elected  to  his  office  in  the  same  or  an- 
cther  church,  he  sha  1  be  installed  after  the 
above  form,  with  the  omission  of  ordina- 
tion. 

Section    V. — Of  the   Ordination  of  Ministers, 

a7id  the  Formation  and  Dissolution,  of 

the  Pastoral   Relation. 

I.  No  Minister  or  probationer  shall  receive 
a  call  from  a  church  but  by  the  permission  of 
his  Prcsbyteiy.  When  a  call  has  been  pre- 
sented to  the  Presbyterj^  if  lound  in  order, 
and  the  Presbytery  deein  it  tor  the  good  of 
the  church,  they  sba  1  place  it  in  the  hands  of 
the  persou  to  whom  it  is  addressed. 

II.  When  a  call  for  the  pas'oral  services  of 
a  probationer  has  been  acce  ted  hj  him,  the 
Presbyteiy.<hall  take  immediate  steps  for  his 
ordination. 

'IF.  Trials  for  ordination,  especially  in  a 
different  Piesbyterj^  trom  that  in  which  the 
candidate  W..S  licensed,  shall  consist  of  a  care- 
ful examination  as  lo  his  acquaintance  with 
experimental  religion  ;  as  to  his  knowledge 
of  philosoph.v,  theology,  ecclesiastical  history, 
the  Greek  and  Hebresv  languages,  and  such 

*  See  Kules  of  Discipline,  Ch.  VIII,  J  X. 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  37 

other  branches  of  learnins:  as  to  the  Presby- 
tery shall  appear  requisite  :  and  as  to  liia 
knowledge  of  the  doctrine  of  the  sacraments, 
and  the  principles  nnd  rules  of  the  government 
and  discipline  of  the  Church.  He  shall  furtlier 
be  required  to  preach  a  sermon  before  the 
Pi-esbytery.  Tl>^  Presbytery  being  fully  sat- 
istied  othis  qualiticationsfor  t!ie  sacred  oliice, 
shall  appoint  a  day  for  his  ordination,  -Ahich 
ought,  if  practicable,  to  be  iu  that  church  of 
which  he  is  to  be  the  pastor. 

IV.  The  day  Mppoiuted  for  the  ordination 
having  come,  at  d  the  Piesbytery  being  con- 
vened, a  niem])er  of  the  Presb5'tcry,  previ- 
ously appo'nted  ro  that  duty,  shall  preach  a 
sermon  adapted  to  the  occasion.  The  same, 
or  another  member  aj^pointed  to  preside,  shall 
after  ;varJs  brierty  recite  from  the  pulpit  the 
proceedings  of  the  Presbytery  preparatory  to 
the  ordination  ;  he  shall  poiut  out  the  nature 
and  importance  of  the  ordinance,  and  en- 
deavor 10  impress  the  audience  with  a  proper 
sense  ot  ihe  solemnity  of  the  transaction. 

Tiien  addressing  himself  to  Ihe  candidate, 
he  shall  propose  to  him  the  following  ques- 
tions, viz : 

1.  Do  vou  believe  the  Scriptures  of  thn  Old 
and  New  Te-taments  to  be  the  Word  of  God, 
the  only  infallible  rule  ot  faith  and  practice  ? 

2.  Do  y®u  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Catechisms  of 
this  Church,  as  containing  the  system  of  doc- 
trine taught  in  the  Holy'Scriptiu-es? 

3.  Do  you  approve  of  the  government  and 
discipline  of  the  Presbyterian  Chiu'ch  in  the 
United  States? 

4.  Do  you  promise  subjection  to  your  breth- 
ren in  the  Lord? 


88  FORM  OF  OOVERNMENT. 

5.  Have  you  been  iiKluced,  as  fnr  as  you 
know  your  own  heart,  to  seek  the  office  of  the 
holy  mh)istiy  from  love  to  God  and  a  sincere 
desire  to  promote  His  glory  in  the  gospel  of 
His  Son? 

6.  Do  you  promise  to  be  jealous  and  faith- 
ful in  mainttiinin^  the  trimis  of  'he  gospi  1 
and  the  purity  JHuTpcac*' of  tlie  Church,  what- 
ever persecution  or  opposition  may  arise  unto 
you  on  that  account? 

7.  Do  you  engage  to  be  faithful  and  diligent 
in  the  exercise  of  all  your  duties  as  a  Chris- 
tian and  a  Minister  of  the  gospe',  whether 
personal  or  relative,  i^ivate  or  public  ;  and  to 
endeavour  by  the  grace  of  God  to  adorn  the 
prof<  ssion  of  the  gospel  in  your  conversation, 
and  to  walk  with  exemplary  pit  ly  b(  fore  the 
flock  of  which  God  shall  make  you  overseer? 

8.  Are  you  now  willing  to  take  the  charge 
of  this  church,  agreeably  to  your  declaration 
at  accepting  their  call  ?  And  do  you.  relying 
upon  God  tor  strength,  piomise  to  dischaige 
to  it  the  duties  of  a  Pastor  ? 

V.  The  candidate  having  answered  these 
questions  in  the  affirmative,  the  presiding 
Minister  shall  propose  to  the  church  the  fol- 
lowing questions : 

1.  Do  you,  the  people  of  this  congregation, 
continue  to  profess  your  readiness  to  receive 

,  whom  you  have  called  to  be  your 
Pastor? 

2.  Do  you  promise  to  receive  the  word  of 
truth  from  his  mouth  with  meekness  and  lo\e, 
and  to  submit  to  him  in  the  due  exercise  of 
discipline  ? 

3.  Do  you  promise  to  encourage  him  in  his 
labours,  and  ro  assist  his  endeavours  for  your 
instruction  and  spiritual  edificaiion? 


f  ORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  39 

4.  And  do  you  engnofe  to  continue  to  him 
whilelie  is  your  Pastor  that  competent  worldly 
maintenance  which  you  have  promised,  ^nd 
to  furnish  him  witl^  whatever  you  may  see 
needful  for  the  honour  of  religion  and  for  his 
comfort  anion  o*  you  ? 

Vr.  The  peo;ole  having  answered  these 
questions  in  the"  nffirmative,  by  holding  up 
their  right  hands,  the  candidate  shad  kned. 
and  the  presiding  Minister  shall,  wiih  prayer 
and  the  laying  on  of  the  hands  of  the  Presby- 
tery, according  to  the  apostolic  example,  sol- 
emnly set  him"  apart  to  the  holy  office  of  the 
gospel  ministry.  Prayer  beinsf  ended,  he  shall 
ri-e  from  his  knees  f  and  the  Minister  who 
presides  shall  first,  and  afterward  all  the  mem- 
bers of  the  Presbytery  in  their  order,  fcike 
him  by  the  right  hand,  saying,  in  words  to 
ths  effect:  **\Vegive  you  the  right  hand  of 
fcllowsliip,  to  take  part  in  this  ministry  with 
us."  The  Moderator  shall  then  say:  "1  i  ow 
pronounce  and  declare  that  A.  B.  has  been 
regidnrlv  elected,  ordained  and  installed  Pas 
tor  of  tins  congregation,  agrc  eably  to  the 
Word  01  God.  and  accordinuf  to  the  Constitu- 
tion of  the  Presbyierian  Church  in  the  United 
States;  and  that  as  such  lie  is  entitled  to  all 
support,  encouragement,  nonor,  and  obed-- 
ence  in  the  Lord.  In  the  name  of  the  Father, 
and  of  the  -on,  and  of  the  Holy  Gho-t.  Amen." 
After  which  tlr^  Minister  p  esiding,  or  som  • 
other  apj)ointed  for  the  purpose,  shall  give  a 
solemn  charge  to  the  Pastor,  and  to  the  con- 
gregation, to  p  rsevere  in  the  discharge  of 
their  reciprocal  duties ;  and  then  by  pi-ayer 
rec-mmend  them  both  to  the  grace  of  (iod 
and  His  lu.ly  keeping:  and  finally,  alter  sing- 
ing a  psalm  or  hymn,  shall  dismiss  the  con- 


40  rov.M  or  hovernment. 

oToofitioii  wiUi  tlie  usual  blos-sinf*-.  And  the 
Presbytery  shall  duly  record  the  transac- 
tion. 

Vir.  After  the  installation,  the  heads  of 
families  of  the  conirreo-ation  then  present,  or 
atleastthe  Ruling- Elders  and  Deacons,  should 
come  forward  to  their  Pastor,  and  ^ive  liiiii 
their  ri,^ht  hand,  in  token  of  cordial  reception 
and  affectionate  regrard. 

VUI.  In  the  ordination  of  probationers  at'. 
Evangelists,  the  eio^lith  of  the  precedi no- ques- 
tions shall  be  omitted,  and  the  following  sub- 
stituted for  it.  viz: 

Do  you  now  undertake  the  work  of  an 
Evangelist,  and  do  you  promise,  in  reliance 
on  (jiod  tor  strength,  to  be  faithful  in  the  dis- 
charge of  all  the' duties  incumbent  on  you  as 
a  Mniister  of  the  Gospel  of  the  Lord  JesuR 
Christ  ? 

IX.  No  Presbytery  shall  ordain  any  proba- 
tioner to  the  office  "of  the  gospel  ministry, 
with  reference  to  his  labouring  within  the 
bounds  of  another  Presbytery,  but  shall  fur- 
nish him  with  the  n^^cessary  testimonials,  an(J 
require  him  to  repair  to  the  I'resbytery  within, 
whose  bounds  he  expects  to  labour,  that  he- 
may  submit  himself  to  its  authority,  according 
to  the  Constitution  of  the  Churcir. 

X.  In  the  installation  of  an  ordained  Minis- 
ter, the  following  questions  are  to  be  substi- 
tuted for  those  addressed  to  a  candidate  for 
ordination,  viz : 

1.  Are  you  now  willing  to  take  charge  of 
this  congregation  as  their  Pastor,  agreeably  to 
your  declaration  at  accepting  it?  call? 

2.  Do  you  conscientiously  believe  and  de- 
clare, as  far  as  j^ou  know  your  own  heart, 
that,  in  taking  upon  you  this  charge,  you  are 


FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  41 

Infiiiencecl  hv  a  sincere  desire  to  prorrote  the 
g'lory  of  <'0(1  and  tlie  oood  of  the  ("liurch? 

3.  Do  you  soknnnly  pronii.-e  that,  b,v  the 
assistance  ol  the  ofrace  of  God,  you  will  en- 
deavour faitlifuUy"  to  discharoe  all  the  duties 
of  a  Pastor  to  this  congretration,  and  will  be 
careful  to  maintain  a  deportment  in  all  re- 
spects becomino-  a  Minister  ot  the  gospel  of 
Christ,  aoreeably  to  your  ordination  engage- 
ments V 

Xr.  A  congregation  desiring  to  call  a  Pas- 
tor from  his  charge,  shall,  by  its  commission- 
ers, represent  to  the  Presbytery  tlie  ground 
on  which  it  pleads  his  removal.  The  Presby- 
tery- having  lieard  all  the  parties,  may,  upon 
viewing  the  whole  casf,  either  recommend 
them  to  desist  from  prosecnting  the  call,  or 
may  order  it  to  be  delivered  to  the  Minister 
to  whom  it  is  addressed,  with  or  without  ad- 
vice; or  may  decline  to  place  the  call  in  his 
hands,  asit'^shail  appear  most  for  the  peace 
and  edification  of  the  Church  at  large;  or  it 
may  refer  the  whole  matter  to  the  next  Synod 
for  advice  and  direction  ;  and  no  Pastor  shall 
be  trans'ated  without  his  own  consent.  If 
the  parties  are  not  ready  to  have  the  matter 
issued  at  the  meeting  then  in  progress,  a  writ- 
ten citation  shad  be  given  the  Mi-istt  rand  his 
churcl)  to  appear  before  the  Presbytery  at  its 
next  meeii' g,  which  citation  shnll  be  read 
from  the  pulpit  on  the  Sabbath  after  sermon, 
at  least  iwo  Sabbaths  befoie  the  intended 
meeting 

XII.  If  the  congregation,  or  other  field  of 
labour,  to  which  a  Minister  or  i^robationer  is 
called,  bennder  the  jurisdicti'^n  of  a  different 
Presbytery,  on  his  acceptance  of  a  call  he  shall 
be  furnished  with  the  proper  testimonials,  and 


^  FORM  OP   GOVERNMENT. 

required  to  repair  immediately  to  that  Pres- 
bytery, in  order  ihnt  he  may  be  re<^iilarly  in- 
ducted into  bis  otiice,  according  to  the  pre- 
cedinf^  directions. 

Xllt.  When  any  Minister  sliall  tojider  the 
resig-nation  of  his  pastoral  charge  to  his  Pres- 
bytery, the  Presbytery  shall  cite  the  churcli, 
as  in  the  preceding  directions,  to  appear  by  its 
commissioners  at  the  next  meeting,  to  show 
cause,  if  any  it  lias,  why  the  Presbyiery  should 
not  accept  the  resignation.  If  the  church  fail 
to  appear,  or  if  irs  reasons  for  retaining  its 
Pastor  be  deemed  insufficient,  liis  resignation 
shall  be  accepted,  and  the  pastoral  relation 
dissolved.  If  any  church  desires  to  be  relieved 
of  its  Pastor,  a  similar  process  shall  be  ob- 
served. But  whether  the  Minister  or  the 
el  lurch  initiate  proceedinsrs  for  a  dissolution 
of  the  relation,  ther.i  shall  always  be  a  nr.  et- 
ing  of  the  chm-ch,  called  and  conducted  pre- 
cisely in  the  same  manner  as  when  the  call  of 
a  Pastor  is  to  be  made  out. 

Section  VL — Of  the  Licensure  of  Probationers 
for  the  Gospel  Ministry. 

r.  Presbyteries  shall  license  probationers  to 
preach  the  gospel,  in  order  that,  after  suffi- 
cientlj^  trying  their  gifts,  and  recei\ing  Irom 
the  church  a  good  report,  they  may,  in  due 
time,  ordain  them  to  the  sacrod  ottice. 

I  r.  The  trials  of  a  candidatf  for  licensure 
shall  ordinarily  be  had  b}''  the  Presbytery 
having  jurisdiction  of  the  church  of  which  he 
is  a  member ;  but  should  any  one  find  it  more 
convenient  to  put  himself  under  the  care  of  a 
Presbytery  at  a  distance  from  that  to  which 
he  most  naturally  belongs,  he  may  be  received 


FOKM  OF  GOVERNMENT.  43 

by  the  said  Presbytery  on  his  producing  testi- 
monials, eitlicr  froin"^the  Presbytery  within 
the  bounds  of  \\hielilie  has  usually  nsided, 
or  from  any  two  Ministers  of  that  Presbytery 
in  good  standing,  ol  liis  exemplary  piety  and 
other  requisite  qiialiticiitions. 

III.  Caudidcites  applyino  to  the  Presbytery 
to  belicen-ed  to  pi-each  the  gospel,  shall  pro- 
duce satisfactory  testiniouials  of  their  good 
moral  character,\and  of  their  being  communi- 
cating members  of  tlie  Church,  in  regular 
standing.  And  the  Presbytery  shall  exam- 
ine them  respecting  their  experimental  ac- 
quaintance with  religion,  and  the  motives 
which  intiuence  them  to  desire  the  sacred 
olfice.  This  examination  thail  be  close  and 
particular,  and  shall  ordinarily  be  conducted 
in  the  presence  of  the  Presbytery  only.  And 
it  is  recommended  that  the'candidate  be  also 
required  to  woduce  a  diploma  of  Bachelor  or 
Master  of  Arts  from  some  college  or  univf-r- 
sity  ;  or  at  least  authentic  testimonials  of  his 
having  gone  through  a  regular  course  of 
learning". 

IV.  The  Presb^-tery  shall  try  each  candi- 
date as  to  his  knowledge  of  the  Latin  lan- 
guage and  the  original  language  s  of  the  Hoiy 
Scriptures.  Jt  shall  also"  examine  him  on 
mental  philosophy,  logic  and  rhetoric;  on 
ethics ;  on  the  naturaT  and  exact  sciences  ; 
on  theology,  natural  and  revealed ;  and  on 
ecclesiastical  history,  the  sacraments,  and 
church  government.  Moreover,  the  Presby- 
tery shall  require  of  him — 

1.  A  discussion  in  T.atin  of  a  thesis  on  some 
common  head  in  divinity. 

2.  An  exegesis  or  critical  exercise,  in  which 
the  candidate  shall  give  a  specimen  of  his  tastQ 


44  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

and  judgment  in  sacred  oriticipm ;  prepentin*^ 
an  explication  of  the  original  text,  statin<i:  its 
connection,  illiistratiiif^  its  force  and  beauties, 
removing  its  dillicnlties,  and  solving  any  im- 
portant questions  which  it  may  present. 

3.  A  lecture  or  exposition  of  sevei-al  verses 
of  Scripture. 

4.  A  sermon. 

V.  'J'hese,  or  other  similar  exercises,  at  tlie 
discretion  of  the  Piesbyter5%  shall  be  exhib- 
ited until  it  shall  have  obtained  satisfaction 
as  to  tlie  candidate's  piety,  learning  and  apt- 
ness to  teach  in  the  Church. 

VI.  ]So  candidate,  excopt  in  extraordinary 
cases,  phall  be  licensed,  unless  he  shall  have 
completed  the  usual  course  ot  academical  stud- 
ies, and  shall  also  have  s;  udied  divinity  at  least 
two  years  under  some  approved  teacher  of  the- 
clogj^;  and  whenever  any  Presbytery  shall 
see  reason  to  depart  from  this  rule,  it  shall 
always  make  a  record  of  the  fact  upon  its  min* 
utes,*with  the  reasons  therefor. 

VII.  If  the  Presbytery  be  satisfied  with  his 
trials,  it  shall  then  proceed  to  license  him  in 
the  following  manner:  'i  h©  Moderator  shall 
propose  to  him  the  following  questions, 
viz: 

1 .  Do  you  believe  the  Scriptures  of  the  Old 
and  New\Tes«taments  to  be  the  Word  of  God, 
the  o\\\y  infallible  rule  ot  laith  and  practice? 

2.  Do  y«u  sincerely  receive  and  adopt  the 
Confession  of  Faith  and  the  Catechisms  of 
this  Church,  as  containing  the  system  of  doc- 
trine taught  in  the  Holy  Scriptures? 

3.  Do  you  iwomise  to  study  the  peace,  unity, 
and  purity  of  the  Cliurch  ? 

4.  Do  you  promise  to  submit  yourself,  m 
the  Lord,  to  the  government  of  this  Presby- 


FORM  OF   GOVERNMENT.  45 

tery,  or  any  other  into  the  bounds  of  which 
you  may  be  called  ? 

VIII.  The  cauclidate  having  answered  these 
questions  in  the  afhrmative,  and  the  ilodera- 
tor  havinp:  oftered  up  a  prayer  suitable  to  the 
occasion,  he  shall  address  the  candidate  to  the 
following-  pnrpose :  "  In  the  name  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  and  by  that  authority  which  He 
has  o-iven  to  the  Church  for  its  edilieation,  we 
do  license  you  to  preach  the  go-pel  as  a  pro- 
bationer for  the  holy  ministry,  wherever  God 
in  His  providence  may  call  you  ;  and  for  this 
purpose  may  the  blessing  of  God  rest  upon 
you,  and  the  Spirit  of  Christ  fill  your  heart. 
Amen."  And  record  shall  be  ^rnade  of  the 
licensure  in  the  following-  or  like  form,  viz : 

At  ,  the  day  of 

,  the  Presbytery  of 
having  received  testimonials  in  favour  of 

,  of  his  ha^dng  gone  through 
a  regular  course  of  literatm-e,  of  his  good 
moral  character,  and  of  his  being  in  the  com- 
munion of  the  Church,  proceeded  to  take  the 
usual  parts  of  trial  for  his  licensure.  And  he 
having  given  satisfaction  as  to  his  accomplish- 
ments in  literature,  as  to  his  experiuiental  ac- 
quaintance with  religion,  and  as  to  his  profi- 
ciency in  divinity  and  other  studies,  the  Pres- 
bytery did,  and  hereby  does,  express  its  ap- 
probation of  all  these  parts  of  trial.  And  he 
having  adopted  the  Confession  ot  Faith  and 
the  Catechisms  of  this  Church,  and  satifacto- 
rily  ans\\^red  the  questions  appointed  to  be 
put  to  candidates  to  be  licensed,  the  Presby- 
tery did,  and  hereby  does,  license  him,  the 
said  ,  to  preach 

the  gospel  of  Christ,  as  a  probationer  for  the 
holy  miuLstry,  within  the  bounds  of  this  Pres- 


46  FORM  OF  GOVERNMENT. 

bytery,  or  wherever  else  he  shall  be  orderly 
called. 

IX.  When  any  candidate  for  licensure  shall 
have  occasion,  while  his  trials  are  going  on,  to 
remove  from  the  bounds  of  his  own  Presby- 
lery  into  tho^e  of  another,  it  shall  be  consid- 
ered regular  for  the  latter  Presbytery,  on  his 
producing  proper  testimonials  Irom  the  form- 
er, to  take  up  his  trials  at  the  point  at  which 
they  were  left,  and  conduct  them  to  a  conclu- 
sion in  the  same  manner  as  if  they  had  been 
commenc  d  by  itself. 

X.  In  like  manner,  when  any  probationrr, 
after  licensure.  sh;ill  by  the  permission  of  his 
Presbyter)^  remove  beyond  its  limits,  an  ex- 
tract of  the  record  of  his  licensure,  and  a  pres- 
byterial  recommendation,  signed  by  the  Clerk, 
shall  be  his  testimonials  to  the  Presbytery  un- 
der whose  care  he  shall  come. 

Xr.  Presbyteries  should  require  probation- 
ers to  devoe  themselves  diligently  to  the  trial 
of  their  gifts ;  and  no  one  should  be  ordained 
to  the  work  of  the  gospel  ministry  until  he 
has  given  evidence  6t  his  ability  to  edify  the 
Church. 

XII.  When  a  probationer  shall  have  been 
preaching  tor  a  considerable  time,  and  his 
services  do  not  appear  to  be  edifj'ing  to  the 
(-hurch,  the  Presbytery  may,  if  it  thinks 
proper,  recall  his  license;  audit  shall  be  its 
duty  to  do  so  whenever  the  probationer  shall 
without  necessity  devote  himself  to  .«uch  pur- 
suits as  interlere  with  a  full  tilal  of  his  gifts, 
according  to  his  license. 


FORM  OP  GOVERNMENT.  A7 

CHAPTER  Vir. 

OF  THE  CONSTITUTION  OF  THIS  CHURCH. 

I.  The  Constitution  of  the  Presbyterinn 
Church  iu  the  United  States  consists  of  its 
doctrinal  sj^mbols,  embraced  in  the  Confession 
of  Faith,  and  the  Larger  and  Shorter  Cate- 
chisms, together  with  the  Book  of  Cliurch 
Order,  which  comprises  the  Form  of  Govern- 
mfiit,  the  Rules  of  Discipline,  and  the  Direc- 
toiy  of  Worship. 

II.  The  Book  of  Church  Order  may  be 
amended  on  ihe  recommendation  of  one  Gen- 
eral Assembly,  when  a  majoriiy  of  the  Pres- 
byteries advise  and  consent  tliereunto,  and  a 
succeeding  Geiieral  Assembly  shall  enact  the 
&ame. 


tART  It. 

The  Rules  of  Discipline. 

CHAPTER  L 

OF  DISCIPLINE— ITS    NATURE,   SUBJECTS,    ANT- 
ENDS. 

L  Discipline  is  the  exercise  of  that  author- 
ity, and  the  application  ot  that  system  ot  laws 
which  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ  has  appointed  in 
His  Church.  The  term  has  two  senses,  the 
one  referring  to  the  wiiole  ofoverainent,  in- 
Epection,  traininof,  guardianship,  and  control, 
which  the  Church  maintains  over  its  mem- 
bers, its  officers,  and  its  courts  ;  the  other  a 
re>tricfed  and  technical  sense,  signifying  judi- 
cial prosecution. 

II.  In  the  one  sense,  all  baptized  persons, 
being  members  of  the  Church,  are  subject  to 
its  discipline,  and  entitled  to  the  benefits 
thereof;  but  in  the  other,  it  refers  only  to 
those  w  ho  have  made  a  profession  of  their 
faith  in  Christ. 

III.  The  ends  of  discipline,  as  it  involve* 
judicial  prosecution,  are  the  rebuke  of  offences, 
the  removal  of  scandal,  the  vindication  of  the 
honour  of  Christ,  the  promotion  of  the  purity 

4L» 


CO  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINE. 

and  general  edification  of  the  Church,  and  the 
spiritual  good  of  offenders  themselves. 

IV.  The  power  which  Chiist  has  given  to 
the  rulers  of  His  Church  is  for  ( dification.  anv< 
not  for  destruction ;   it  is  a  dispensation  (»? 
mercy,  and  not  of  wrath.    As  in  the  preach 
ing  of  the  word  the  wicked  are  doctrinal  1 1 
separated  from  the  good,  so  by  discipline  th' 
Cnurch  authoritatively  separates  between  th' 
ho:y  and  the  profane.    In  this  it  acts  the  pai 
of  a  tender  mother,  correcting  her  children  fo 
their  good,  that  every  one  of  them  may  b » 
presented  faultless  in  the  day  of  the  Lorl 
Jesus. 


CHAPTER  II. 

OF  THE    DISCIPLINE    OF   NON-COMMUNICATINil 
MEMBERS. 

I.  The  oversio;ht  of  the  children  of  thu 
Church  is  committed  by  God  primarily  to  be 
lieving  parents,  who  are  responsible  to  rh^ 
Church  for  the  faithful  discharge  of  this  duty 
1'he  resp.onsibility  of  parents  continues  durin|j 
the  minority  of  their  children,  and  extends  to 
all  such  conduct  contrary  to  the  purity  anr"' 
sobriety  of  the  gospel  as  parents  may  ancl 
ou»;ht  to  restrain  and  control. 

II.  The  Church  should  make  special  provis- 
ion for  the  instruction  of  its  youth  in  the  doc- 
trines of  the  Bible  as  set  forth  in  the  Cate 
chisms.  Hence,  Church  Sessions  ought  to 
establish,  under  tlieir  own  authoritv,  Bible 
classes  and  Sabbath  schools  for  this  object,  or 


TDE  RULFS  OP  DISCirLINE.  51 

to  adopt  such  other  methods  as  shall  secure 
the  same  end. 

III.  When  the  children  of  the  Church  arrive 
at  years  of  discretion,  they  are  bound  to  dis- 
charge all  the  duties  of  church  members.  If 
they  give  evidt-uce  of  saving  faith  in  Christ, 
together  with  a  correct  walk  and  conversation, 
the}'  should  be  informed  that  it  is  their  privi 
lege  and  duty  to  make  a  profession  of  faith  in 
Christ,  and  to  come  to  His  table.  If  they  ex- 
hibit a  wayward  disposition,  and  associate 
themselves  with  the  profane,  the  Church 
should  still  cherish  them  in  laith,  and  ought 
to  use  all  such  means  as  the  Word  of  God 
warrants  and  tlie  christian  prudence  of  church 
othcers  shall  dictate,  for  reclaiming  them  and 
brino-ing  them  to  appreciate  their  covenant 
privileges,  and  to  discharge  theii*  covenant 
obligations. 

IV.  Those  adult  non-communicating  mem- 
bers who  submit  with  meekness  and  gratitude 
to  the  government  and  instruction  of  the 
Church,  are  entitled  to  special  attention. 
Th(4r  rights  under  the  covenaijt  should  be 
frequently  and  fully  explained  and  their  du- 
ties enforced  on  their  consciences ;  they  should 
be  warned  of  the  sin  and  danger  of  neglecting 
their  covenant  obligations,  and  urged  by  the 
mercies  ot  Christ  to  come  up  to  their  full  dis- 
charj^e. 

V.  All  non-communicating  members  shall 
be  deemed  under  the  care  of  the  church  to 
which  their  parents  belong,  if  they  live  under 
the  parental  roof  and  are  minors ;  or  other- 
wise, under  that  of  the  church  where  they  re- 
side, or  with  which  they  ordinarily  worship. 


62  THE  RULT58  OF  DISCTPtlNB. 

CHAPTER  III. 

OP     OFFENCES. 

I.  An  offence,  the  proper  object^of  judicial 
process,  is  anything  in  the  principles  or  prac- 
tice of  a  church  member  professing  faith  in 
Christ,  which  is  coutrarj^  to  tiie  Word  of  God. 
The  Confession  of  Faith  and  the  T.arger  and 
Shorter  Catechisms  of  the  Westminster  As- 
sembly, together  with  the  formularies  of  gov- 
ernment, discipline,  and  worship,  are  accepted 
by  the  Presbyterian  Church  in  the  United 
States  as  standard  expositions  of  the  teach- 
ings of  Scripture  in  relation  to  both  faith  and 
practice.  Nothing,  therefore,  ought  to  be 
considered  by  any  court  as  an  offence,  or  ad- 
mitted as  a  matter  of  accusation,  which  can- 
not be  proved  to  be  such  from  Scripture,  as 
interpreted  in  these  standards. 

II.  Offences  are  either  personal  or  general, 
private  or  public ;  but  all  of  them  being  sins 
against  God,  are,  therefore  grounds  of  discip- 
line. 

III.  Personal  offences  are  ^dolatious  of  the 
Divine  law,  considered  in  the  special  relation 
ot  wrongs  or  injuries  to  particular  individu- 
als. General  offences  are  heresies  or  imnaor- 
ralities.  having  no  such  relation,  or  considered 
apart  trom  it. 

l\.  Private  offences  are  those  which  are 
known  only  to  a  few  persons.  Public  offences 
are  those  which  are  notorious. 


THE   RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE.  63 

CHAPTER  IV. 

OF    CHURCH    CENSURES. 

I.  The  censures  which  may  be  inflicted  by 
church   courts  are,  admonition,  suspension, 

excommunication,  and  deposition.  Wlieu  a 
lower  censure  lails  to  reclaim  the  delinquent, 
it  may  become  the  duty  of  the  court  to  pro- 
cef^d  to  the  infliction  of  a  hio-her  censure. 

II.  Admonition  is  the  formal  reproof  of  an 
offender  by  a  church  court,  warning  him  of 
Ills  guilt  and  danger,  and  exhorting  him  to 
be  more  ch-cumspe'ct  and  watchful  in  the  fu- 
tm-e. 

III.  Suspension,  with  respect  to  church 
membei's,  is  their  temporary  exclusion  from 
sealing  ordinances;  with  respect  to  church 
officers,  it  is  their  temporary  exclusion  from 
the  exercise  of  their  offlce.  It  may  be  either 
defluire  or  indefinite  as  to  its  duration.  Defi- 
nite suspension  is  administered  when  the 
credit  of  religion,  the  honour  of  Christ,  and 
the  good  of  the  delinquent  demand  it,  even 
though  he  may  have  given  satisfiiction  to  the 
court.  Indefinite  suspension  is  the  exclusion 
of  an  oflender  from  sealing  ordinances,  or 
from  his  ofiice,  until  he  exhibit  signs  of  re- 
pentance, or  until,  by  his  conduct,  the  ne- 
cessity 01  the  highest  censure  be  made  mani- 
fest. 

IV.  Excommunication  is  the  excision  of  an 
offender  from  the  communion  of  the  Church. 
This  censure  is  to  be  inflicted  only  on  account 
of  gross  cr.me  or  heresy,  when  the  offender 
6hov7S  himself  incorrigible  and  contumacious. 
The  design  of  this  censure  is  to  operate  on 
the  offender  as  a  means  ot  reclaiming  him,  to 


64  THE  RULES  OF   DISCIPLTNE. 

deliver  the  Cliurch  from  the  scandal  of  his  of- 
fence, and  to  inspire  all  with  lear  by  the  ex- 
ample of  his  di-scipline. 

V.  Deposition  is  the  degradation  of  an  ofli- 
cer  from  his  otH(  e,  and  may  or  may  not  be 
accompanied  with  the  intiiction  of  other  cen- 
sure. 


CHAPTER  V. 

OP  THE  PARTIES  IN  CASES  OP  PR0CES8. 

I.  Original  jurisdiction  in  relation  to  Min- 
isters of  the  Gospel  pertains  exclusively  to  the 
Presbytery,  and  in  relation  to  other  church 
members  to  the  i?ession. 

II.  It  is  the  duty  of  all  church  Sessions  and 
Presbyteries  to  exercise  care  over  those  sub- 
ject to  their  authority;  and  they  shall,  with 
due  diligence  and  great  discretion,  demand 
from  such  persons  satisfactory  explanations 
concerning  reports  aftecting  their  Christian 
character.  This  duty  is  'more  imperative 
when  tliose  wlio  deem  themselves  aggrieved 
by  injurious  reports  shall  ask  an  investiga- 
tion. Jf  such  investigation,  however  origin- 
ating, should  result  in  raising  a  strong  pre- 
sumption of  the  guilt  of  the  party  involved, 
the  court  shall  institute  process,  and  shall  ap- 
point a  prosecutor  to  prepare  the  indictment, 
and  to  conduct  the  case.  This  prosecutor 
shall  be  a  member  of  the  court,  except  that, 
in  a  case  before  the  Session,  he  may  be  any 
communicating  member  of  the  same^ congre- 
gation with  the  accused. 


THE  RULES  OF   DISCIPLINE.  55 

Til.  The  Original  and  only  parties  in  a  case 
of  process  are  the  accuser  "and  the  accused. 
The  accuser  is  always  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  the  United  States,  whose  honour 
and  purity  are  to  be  maintained.  'J'he  prose- 
cutor, whether  voluntary  or  appointed,  is 
always  the  representative  of  the  Uluu'ch,  and 
as  such  has  all  its  rights  in  the  case.  In  ap- 
pellate courts  the  parties  are  known  as  appel- 
lant and  appellee. 

IV.  Every  indictment  shall  begin :  "  In  the 
name  of  the  Piesbyterian  Church  in  the  Uni- 
ted States,"  and  shall  conclude,  •*  against  the 
peace,  unitj^  and  purity  of  the  Church,  and 
the  honour  and  niajesry  of  the  Lord  Jesus 
Christ  as  the  King  and  Head  thereof."  In 
every  case  the  Church  is  the  injured  and  ac- 
cusing partj^,  versus  the  accused. 

Y.  An  injured  party  sliall  not  become  a 
prosecutor  of  personal  offences  without  hav- 
ing previouslj^  tried  the  means  ot  reconcilia- 
tion, and  of  reclaiming  the  offender,  required 
by  Christ :  '•'  Moreover,  if  thy  brother  shall 
trespass  against  thee,  go  and  tell  him  his  fault 
betvveen  thee  and  him  alone  :  if  he  shall  h^ar 
thee,  thou  hast  gained  thy  brother ;  but  if  he 
will  not  hear  thee,  then  take  with  thee  one  or 
two  more,  that  in  the  mouth  of  two  or  three 
witnesses  every  word  may  be  established." 
Matt,  xviii :  15,  16.  A  church  court,  however, 
may  judiciady  investigate  personal  offences 
as  if  general,  when  the  interests  of  religion 
seem  to  demand  it,  So,  also,  those  to  whom 
private  offences  are  known  cannot  become 
prosecutors,  without  having  previously  en- 
deavoured to  remove  the  scandal  by  private 
means. 

VI.  When  the  offence  is  general,  the  cause 


66  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLmfi. 

may  be  conducted  either  by  any  person  ap« 
pearino:  as  prosecutor,  or  by  a  prosecutor  ap- 
pointed by  the  court. 

VII.  VVhen  the  prosecution  is  instituted  by 
the  court,  the  previous  steps  required  by  our 
Lord  in  the  case  of  personal  offences  are  not 
necessary.  'J'here  are  many  cases,  however, 
in  wiiich  it  will  promote  the  interests  of  reli- 
gion to  send  a  committee  to  converse  in  a 
private  manner  with  the  offender,  and  en- 
deavour to  bring  him  to  a  sense  of  his  guilt, 
before  instituting  actual  process. 

VIII.  Great  caution  ought  to  be  exercised 
in  receiving  accusations  from  any  person  who 
is  known  to  indulge  a  malignant  spirit  to« 
Avards  the  accused ;  who  is  not  of  good  char, 
acter ;  who  is  liimself  under  censiu-e  or  pro- 
cess; who  is  deeply  interested  in  any  respect 
in  the  conviction  of  the  accuse<l;  or  who  i? 
known  to  be  litigious,  rash,  or  highly  impru- 
dent. 

IX.  Every  voluntary  prosecutor  shall  be 
previously  warned,  that  if  he  fail  to  show 
probable  cause  of  the  charges,  he  must  him- 
self be  censured  as  a  slanderer  of  the  bn  thren, 
in  proportion  to  the  malignity  or  rashness 
mat  ifested  in  the  prosecution. 

X.  V\  hen  a  member  of  a  church  court  is 
under  process,  all  his  olhcial  functions  may 
be  suspended,  at  its  aiscretion:  but  this  shall 
never  be  done  in  the  way  of  censure. 

Xf.  In  the  discus-ion  of  all  questions  aris- 
ing in  his  own  case,  the  accused  shall  exer- 
cise the  rights  of  defendant  only,  not  of 
judge. 


THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINE.  57 

CHAPTER  VI. 

OF  GENERAL  PROVISIONS  APPLICABLE  TO  ALL 

CASES  OF  PROCESS. 

I.  It  is  incumbent  on  every  member  of  a 
court  of  Jesus  Christ,  enofao-e'd  in  a  trial  ol 
offenders,  to  bear  in  mind  the  inspired  in- 
junction :  '*  If  a  man  be  overtaken  in  a  fault, 
ye  which  are  spiritual  restore  such  an  one  in 
the  spirit  of  meekness,  considering  thyself, 
lest  thou  also  be  tempted." 

II.  Process  a«-ainst  an  offender  shall  not  be 
commenced  unless  some  person  or  persons 
Lmdertake  to  make  out  the  charge ;  or  unless 
the  court  linds  it  necessarj^  for  the  honour  ot 
religion,  itself  to  take  the  step  provided  for  in 
chapter  v.,  paragraph  II. 

II[.  When  a  charge  is  laid  before  the  Ses- 
sion or  Presbytery,  it  shall  be  reduced  to  writ- 
ing, and  nothing  shall  be  done  at  the  first 
meeting  of  the  court,  unless  by  consent  of 
parties,  exce])t  to  appoint  a  pjosecutor,  and 
order  the  indictment  to  be  drawn,  a  copy  of 
which,  with  the  witnesses  i  hen  known  to  sup- 
port it,  shall  be  served  on  the  accused,  and  to 
cite  all  parties  and  their  witnesses  to  appear 
and  be  heard  at  another  meeting,  which  shall 
not  be  sooner  than  ten  days  after  such  cita- 
tion; at  which  meeting  of  the  court  the 
charges  shall  be  read  to  the  accused,  if  pres- 
ent, and  he  shall  be  called  upon  to  say  whether 
he  be  guilty  or  not.  If  he  confess,  the  court 
may  deal  with  him  according  to  its  discretion; 
if  he  plead  and  take  issue,  the  trial  shall  pro- 
ceed. Accused  paities  may  phad  in  writing, 
when  they  cannot  be  personally  present,  and 


68  THE  RULES    OF  DISCIPLINE. 

parties  necessarily  absent  should  have  counsel 
assio^ned  to  them. 

IV.  The  citation  sliall  be  issued  and  signed 
by  the  Moderator  or  Clerk,  by  onUr  and  in 
the  name  of  the  court;  he  shall  also  issue  ci- 
tations to  such  witn(  sses  as  either  party  sliall 
nominate  to  appear  on  his  behalf. 

V.  In  drawing  the  indictment,  the  times, 
places  and  circumstances  shonld,  if  possible, 
be  particularly  stated,  that  the  accused  may 
have  full  opportunity  to  niiike  his  defence. 

VI.  When  an  accused  person  shall  refuse  to 
obey  a  citation,  he  shall  be  cited  a  second 
time ;  and  this  second  citation  shall  be  accom- 
panied with  a  notice  that  if  he  do  not  appear 
at  the  time  appointed  (unless  providentially 
hindered,  which  tact  he  must  make  known  to 
the  court),  or  that  if  he  appear  and  refuse  to 
plead,  he  shall  be  dealt  with  for  his  contu- 
macy, as  hereinafter  provided. 

VII.  The  time  which  must  elapse  between 
the  serving  of  the  first  citation  on  the  accused 
person,  and  the  meeting  of  the  court  at  which 
he  is  to  appear,  shall  be  at  least  ten  days.  But 
the  time  allotted  for  his  appearance  on  the 
subsequent  citation,  shall  be  lelt  to  the  discre- 
tion of  the  court ;  provided  that  it  be  not  less 
than  is  quite  sufficient  for  a  seasonable  and 
convenient  compliance  with  the  citation. 

VI II.  When  the  offence  with  which  an  ac« 
cused  person  stands  charged  took  place  at  a 
distance,  and  it  is  inconvenient  for  the  wit- 
nesses to  appear  before  the  court  having  ju- 
risdiction, that  court  may  either  appoint  a 
commission  of  its  body,  or  request  the  co-or- 
dinate court  connguous  to  the  place  where 
the  tacts  occurred,  to  take  the  testimony  for  it. 
The  accused  shall  always  have  reasonable  no- 


THE  RULES  OF   DISCIPLINE.  59 

tice  of  the  time  and  place  of  the  meeting  oi 
this  commission. 

IX.  When  an  offence,  alleofed  to  have  been 
committed  at  a  distance,  is  not  lilvcly  other- 
wise to  become  known  to  the  conrt  having 
jnrisdiction,  it  shall  be  the  duty  of  the  conrt 
within  whose  bonnds  the  facts  occurred,  after 
satislying  itself  that  there  is  probable  ground 
of  accusation,  to  send  notice  to  the  court  hav- 
ing jurisdiction,  wiiich  shall  at  once.proceed 
against  the  accused  :  or  the  whole  case  may 
be  remitted  for  trial  to  the  co-ordinate  court 
within  whose  bounds  the  offence  is  alleged  to 
have  been  committed. 

X.  Before  proceeding  to  trial,  courts  ought 
to  ascertain  that  their  citations  have  been  duly 
served. 

XI.  In  every  process,  if  deemed  expedient, 
there  may  be  a  committee  appointed,  which 
shall  be  called  the  Judicial  Committee,  and 
whose  duty  it  shall  be  to  digest  and  arrange 
aU  the  papers,  and  to  prescribe,  under  the  di- 
rection of  the  court,  the  whole  order  of  the 
proceedings.  The  members  of  this  commit- 
tee shall  be  entitled,  notwithstanding  their 
performance  of  this  duty,  to  sit  and  vote  in 
the  case  as  members  of  the  court. 

XII.  When  the  trial  is  about  to  begin,  it 
shall  be  the  duty  of  the  Moderator  solemnly 
to  announce  from  the  chair  that  the  court  is 
about  to  pass  to  the  consideration  of  the  cause, 
and  to  enjoin  on  the  members  to  recollect  and 
regard  their  high  cliaracter  as  judges  of  a 
court  of  Jesus  (Jhri>t,  and  the  solemn  dutj''  in 
which  they  are  about  to  engage. 

XIII.  In  order  that  the  trial  may  be  fair  and 
impartial,  the  witnesses  shall  be  examined  in 
the  presence  of  the  accused,  or  at  least  after 


bO  THE  RULES  OF  DISCirLiyB. 

he  shall  have  received  due  citation  to  attend. 
Witnesses  may  be  cross-examined  by  both 
parties,  and  any  questions  asked  which  are 
pertinent  to  tiie  issue. 

XIV.  On  all  questions  ari^^ing  in  the  pro- 
gress of  a  trial,  the  discussion  shall  fir.-t  be 
between  the  parties ;  and  when  they  have 
been  heard  they  maybe  required  to  withdraw 
from  the  court,  until  the  members  deliberate 
upon  an(3  decide  the  point. 

XV.  When  a  court  of  first  resort  proceeds 
to  the  trial  of  a  cause,  the  following  order  shall 
be  observed,:  1.  The  Moderator  shall  charge 
the  court.  '2.  The  indictment  shall  be  read, 
and  the  answer  of  the  accused  heard.  3.  The 
witnesses  for  the  prosecutor,  and  then  those 
for  the  accused,  shall  be  examined.  4.  The 
parties  shall  be  heard,  first  the  prosecutor, 
and  then  the  accused,  and  the  prosecutor  shall 
close.  5.  The  roll  shall  be  called,  that  the 
members  may  express  their  opinion  in  the 
cause.  6.  The  decision  shall  be  made,  and 
judgment  entered  on  record. 

XVI.  Either  party  may,  for  cause,  chal- 
lenge the  right  of  any  member  to  sit  in  the 
trial  of  the  case,  which  question  shall  be  de- 
cided by  the  members  of  the  court,  other  than 
the  one  challenged. 

XVI  [.  Pending  the  trial  of  a  cause,  any 
member  of  the  court  who  shall  express  his 
opinion  of  its  merits  to  either  party,  or  to  any 
person  not  a  member  of  the  court ;  or  who 
Fhall  absent  himself  from  any  sitting  without 
the  permission  of  the  court,  or  satisfactory 
reasons  rendered,  sliall  be  thereby  disqualified 
from  taking  part  in  the  subsequt'ut  proceed- 
ings. 

XVIII.  The  parties  shall  be  allowed  copies 


THE    RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE.  61 

of  the  whole  proceed  in  o-s,  at  their  own  ex- 
pense, if  they  demand  thein.  Minutes  of  the 
trial  sliall  be  Ivept  by  the  clerk,  which  shall 
exhibit  the  charges,  the  answer,  all  the  testi- 
mony, and  all  such  acts,  orders,  and  decisions 
of  the  court  relating  to  the  cause,  as  either 
party  may  desire,  and  also  the  iudgment. 
The  clerk  shall,  without  delay,  attach  togeth- 
er the  charges,  the  answer,  the  citations  and 
returns  thereto,  and  the  minutes  herein  re- 
quired to  be  kept.  These  papers,  when  so 
attached,  shall  constitute  '•  the  record  of  the 
cause."  AVhen  a  cause  is  remoyed  by  appeal 
or  complaint,  the  lower  court  shall  transmit 
"the  record"  thus  prepai'cd  to  the  higher 
coiu-t,  with  the  addition  of  the  notice  of  ap- 
peal or  complaint,  and  the  re  isons  thereof,  if 
any  shall  haye  been  tied,  is'othing  which  is 
not  contained  in  this  ''record' "shall  be  taken  in- 
to consideration  in  the  higher  court.  On  the 
final  decision  of  a  cause  in  a  higher  court,  its 
judgment  shall  be  sent  down  to  the  court  in 
which  the  case  originated. 

XIX.  No  professional  counsel  shall  be  per- 
mitted as  such  to  appear  and  plead  in  cases  of 
process  in  any  court;  bat  an  accused  person 
may,  if  he  desirts  it,  be  represented  before 
the  Session  by  any  comnuinicating  member 
of  the  same  particular  cliureh  ;  or  before  any 
other  court,  by  any  member  of  the  court.  A 
member  of  the  coiu-t  so  employed  shall  not 
be  allowed  to  sit  in  judgment  in  the  cause. 

XX.  Process,  in  case  of  scandal,  shall  com- 
mence within  the  space  of  one  year  after  the 
offence  was  committed,  luiless  it  has  r«  cently 
become  flagrant.  When,  ho  veyer,  a  church 
member  shall  commit  an  oftence,  atter  remov- 
ing to  a  place  far  distant  from  liis  former  real- 


9i  THE  RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE. 

dence,  and  where  his  connection  with  the 
Church  is  unknown,  in  consequence  of  which 
circumstances  process  cannot  be  instituted 
witliin  the  time  above  specified,  the  recent 
discovery  of  tlie  church  membership  of  tlie 
individual  shall  be  considered  as  equivalent  to 
the  offence  itself  having  recently  become  fla- 
gi'ant.  The  same  principle  in  like  circum- 
stances, shall  also  apply  to  Ministers. 


CHAPTER  VII. 

SPECUL   RXriES  PERTAINING  TO  PROCESS  BE- 
FORE SESSIONS. 

T.  Process  aofainst  all  church  members,  oth- 
er than  Ministers  of  the  gospel,  shall  be  enter- 
ed before  the  Session  of  the  church  to  which 
such  members  belong. 

II.  When  an  accused  person,  having  been 
twice  duly  cited,  shall  refuse  to  appear  before 
the  Session,  or  appearing,  shall  refuse  to 
plead,  the  court  shall  enter  upon  its  records 
the  fact,  together  with  the  nature  of  the  of- 
fence charged,  and  he  shall  be  suspended  from 
sealing  ordinances  for  his  contumacy.  This 
sentence  shall  be  made  public,  and  shall  in  no 
ease  be  removed  until  he  has  not  only  repent- 
ed of  his  contumacy,  but  has  given  satisfac- 
tion in  relation  to  the  charges  against  him. 

II[.  If  the  charge  be  one  of  gross  crime  or 
heresy,  and  the  accused  persist  in  his  contu- 
macy, the  court  may  proceed  to  inflict  the 
highest  censure. 

IV.  When  it  is  impracticable  immediately  to 


THE  RULES  OP  DISCIP1.INB.  63 

comence  process  against  an  accusefl  church 
member,  the  Session  may,  if  it  think  the  edifi- 
cation of  the  Church  require  it,  prevent  the 
accused  from  approaching-  the  Lord's  table, 
until  the  charges  against  him  can  be  exam- 
ined. 


CHAPTER  VIII. 

SPECIAL    RULES  PERTAINING    TO   PRQCE88 
AGAINST  A  MINISTER. 

I.  Process  against  a  Minister  shall  be  en- 
tered before  the  Presbytery  of  which  he  is  a 
member. 

n.  As  no  Minister  ought,  on  account  of  his 
office,  to  be  screened  in  his  sin,  or  slightly 
censured,  so  scandalous  charges  ought  not  to 
be  received  against  him  on  slight  grounds. 

II  [.  If  any  one  know  a  Minister  to  be  guilty 
of  a  private  offence,  he  should  warn  him  in 
private.  But  if  the  offence  be  persisted  in,  or 
become  public,  he  should  bring  the  case  to  the 
attention  of  some  other  Minister  of  the  Pres- 
bytery for  Ids  advice. 

IV.  If  a  Minister  accused  of  an  offence,  hav- 
ing been  twice  duly  cited,  shall  refuse  to  ap- 
pear before  the  Presbytery,  he  shall  be  imme- 
diately suspended.  And  if.  after  another  cita- 
tion, he  still  refuse  to  attend,  he  shall  be 
deposed  as  contumacious,  and  suspended  or 
excommunicated  from  the  Church.  Record 
shaU  be  made  of  the  judgment  and  of  the 
charges  under  wliich  he  was  arraigned,  and 
the  sentence  shaU  be  made  public. 


64  THE  RULES  OF   DISCIPLINE. 

V.  Heresy  and  f^cliism  may  be  of  such  a  na- 
ture as  to  waiTiiiit  deposition;  but  errors 
ouiibt  to  be  caiefully  considered,  whether 
tiiey  strike  at  the  vitals  of  religion,  and  are 
industrious]}^  spread,  or  Avhether  they  arise 
from  the  weakness  oftlie  Imman  understand- 
ino-,  and  are  not  likely  to  do  much  injury. 

VI.  If  the  Presbytery  find  on  trial  that  the 
matter  complainrrd  of  amounts  to  no  more 
than  such  acts  of  intirmity  as  may  be  amended, 
so  that  little  or  nothin*i-  remains  to  hinder  the 
Minister's  usefulness,  it  shall  take  all  prudent 
measures  to  remove  the  scandal. 

VII.  When  a  Minister,  pendino^ a  trial,  shall 
make,  confession,  if  the  matter^be  base  and 
fiao-itious,  such  as  drunkenness,  uiieleanness, 
or  crimes  of  a  hi  a  her  nature,  however  peni- 
tent he  may  appear  to  tlie  satisfaction  of  all, 
the  court  shall,  without  delay,  suspend  him 
trom  the  exercise  of  his  office^  or  depose  him 
from  the  ministry. 

VI II.  A  Minister  suspended  or  deposed  for 
scandalous  conduct,  shall  not  be  restored,  even 
on  'he  deepest  sorrow  for  his  sin.  until  he  shall 
exhibit  for  a  considerable  time  such  an  emi- 
nently exemplary,  humble,  and  edifying  walk 
and  conversation  as  shall  heal  the  wound 
made  by  his  scandal.  And  a  deposed  Minis- 
ter shall  in  no  case  be  i-estored  until  it  shall 
appear  that  the  general  sentiment  of  the 
Church  is  strongly  in  his  favour,  and  demands 
his  resto  ation  ;  and  then  only  by  the  court 
intlicting  the  censure,  or  with  its  consent. 

IX.  VV  h'  n  a  Minister  is  deposed  his  church 
shall  be  delared  vacant;  but  when  he  is  sus- 
pended, it  shall  be  left  to  the  discretion  ot  the 
f're.sbytery  whether  the  sentence  shall  include 
the  dissolutiou  of  the  pastoral  relation. 


THE  RtTLES  OF  DISCtPLlNE.  65 

X.  Whenever  a  Minister  of  the  gospel  shall 
habitually  fail  to  be  en«^afred  in  the  regular 
discharse  of  his  official  functions,  it  shall  be 
the  duty  ot  the  Presbytery,  at  a  stated  meet- 
ing, to  inquire  into  the  cause  of  such  derelic- 
tion, and  if  necessary,  to  institute  judicial  pro- 
ceedings against  him  for  breach  of  his  cove- 
nant engagement.  If  it  shall  appear  that  his 
neglect  proceeds  only  from  his  want  of  ac- 
ceptance to  the  Church,  Presbytery  may,  up- 
on the  same  principle  upon  which  it  with- 
draws license  from  a  probationer  for  want  of 
evidence  of  the  Divine  call,  divest  him  of 
his  office  without  censure,  even  against  his 
win,  a  majority  of  two-thu'ds  being  necessary 
for  this  purpose. 

In  such  a  case,  the  clerk  shall,  under  the 
order  of  the  Presbytery,  forthwith  deliver  to 
the  individual  concerned  a  written  notice  that, 
at  the  next  stated  meeting,  the  question  of  his 
being  so  dealt  with  is  to  lie  considered.  This 
notice  shall  distinctly  state  the  grounds  lor 
this  proceeding.  The  party  thus  notified  shall 
be  heard  in  his  own  defence  ;  and  if  the  decis- 
ion pass  against  him,  he  may  appeal,  as  if  he 
had  been  tried  after  the  usual  forms. 

This  principle  may  ?ip^\y .  mutatis  mutandis, 
to  Ruling  Elders  and  Deacons. 


66  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINB. 

CHAPTER  IX. 

OF     EVIDENCE. 

I.  All  persons  of  proper  ao^e  and  ii>telligenc« 
are  competent  witnesses,  except  such  as  do 
not  believe  in  the  existence  of  God,  or  a  fu- 
ture state  of  rewards  and  punishments.  The 
accused  party  may  be  allowed,  but  shall  net 
be  compi  lied,  to  testify ;  but  the  accuser  shall 
be  required  to  testify  on  tlie  demand  of  the 
accused.  Either  party  has  the  right  to  chal- 
lenge a  witness  whom  he  believes  to  be  lu- 
competent,  and  the  court  shall  examine  and 
decide  upon  his  competency.  It  belongs  to 
the  court  to  judge  of  the  degree  of  credibility 
to  be  attached  to  all  evidence. 

IE.  A  hu-band  ©r  wife  shall  not  be  com- 
pelled to  bear  testimony  the  one  against  the 
other  in  any  court. 

III.  The  testimony  of  more  than  one  wit- 
ness shall  be  necessary  in  order  to  establish 
any  charge  ;  yet  if,  in  addition  to  the  testimo- 
ny of  one  witness,  corroborative  evidence  be 
produced,  the  offence  maybe  considered  to  be 
proved. 

IV.  No  witness  afterwards  to  be  exam^nea 
except  a  member  of  the  court,  shall  be  pres- 
ent during  the  examination  of  another  wit- 
ness on  the  same  case,  if  either  party  object. 

V-  Witnesses  shall  be  examined,  first  by  the 
party  introducing  theaa  ;  then  cross-examined 
by  the  opposite  party ;  after  which  any  mem- 
ber of  the  court,  or  either  party,  may  put  ad- 
ditional interrogatories.  But  no  question 
shall  be  put  or  answered,  except  by  permis- 
sion oi  the  Moderator,  subject  to  an  appeal 
to  the  court ;  and  the  court  shall  not  permit 


THE  HtJtKS   OP  BISCIPLIN^E.  67 

questions  Irivolous  or  iiTelevant  to  the  charge 
at  issue. 

Vi.  The  oath  or  afhrmation  to  a  witness 
shaU  be  administered  by  the  Moderator  in  the 
folio v\ing  or  like  terms:  ''You  solemnly 
promise,  in  the  presence  of  God.  that  you  will 
declare  the  truih,the  whole  truth,  andnoihing 
but  the  truth,  accordino-  to  ihe  best  of  your 
knowledge  in  the  matter  in  \^hich  you  are 
called  to  witness,  as  you  shall  answer  it  lo  ihe 
great  Judge  of  quick  and  dead."  If.  however, 
at  any  time  a  witness  should  present  himself 
before  a  court,  who.  for  conscientious  reasons, 

E refers  to  swear  or  affi-im  in  any  other  manner, 
e  shall  be  allowed  to  do  so. 

VII.  Every  question  put  to  a  witness  i^hall, 
if  required,  be  reduced  to  writing.  When  an- 
swered, it  shall,  together  with  the  answer,  be 
recorded,  if  d'  emed  by  the  court,  or  by  either 
party,  ot  snfiicient  importance,  and  i he  testi- 
mony of  the  witness  shall  be  read  to  him  for 
his  approbation  and  subscription. 

VIII.  The  records  of  a  court,  or  any  part  of 
them,  whether  original  or  transcribed,  it  reg 
ularly  authenticated  by  the  Moderator  and 
Clerk,  or  by  either  of  them,  shall  be  deemed 
good  and  sufficient  evidence  in  every  other 
court. 

IX.  In  like  manner,  testimony  taken  by 
one  court  and  regularly  certified,  shall  be  re- 
ceived by  every  other  court,  as  no  less  valid 
than  if  it  had  been  taken  by  itself. 

X.  When  it  is  not  convenient  for  a  court 
to  have  the  whole,  or  perhaps  any  part  of  the 
testimony  in  a  particular  c:iuse,  taken  in  its 
presence,  a  commission  shad  be  ;^pp()inte(i  to 
take  the  testimony  in  question,  which  shall 
be  coiisidered  as  if  takeu  in  the  presence  of 


68  THE  RULES    OF  DISCIPLINE. 

the  court;  of  which  commission,  and  of  the 
time  and  place  of  its  meeting,  due  notice  shall 
be  given  to  the  opposite  party,  that  he  may 
have  an  opportunity  of  attending.  And  if  the 
accused  shall  desire,  on  his  part,  to  take  testi- 
mony at  a  distance,  for  his  own  exculpation, 
he  shall  give  notice  to  the  court  of  the  time 
and  place  at  which  it  is  proposed  to  take  it, 
that  a  commission,  as  in  the  former  case,  may 
be  appointed  for  the  purpose.  Or,  the  testi- 
mony may  be  taken  on  written  interrogato- 
ries, by  tiling  the  same  with  the  clerk  of  the 
court  having  jurisdiction  of  the  cause,  and  giv- 
ing two  weeks'  notice  thereof  to  the  adverse 
party,  durin":  which  time  he  may  file  cross- 
interrogatories  if  he  desire  ir ;  and  the  testi- 
mony shall  then  be  taken  by  the  commission 
in  answer  to  the  direct  and  cross-interrogato- 
rie>!,  if  such  are  filed,  and  no  notice  need  be 
given  of  the  time  and  place  of  taking  the  tes- 
timony. 

X[.  A  member  of  the  court  shall  not  be 
disqualified  for  sitting  as  a  judge  by  having 
given  testimony  in  the  case. 

XII.  An  officer  or  private  member  of  the 
church  refusing  to  testify,  may  be  censured 
for  contumacy. 

XIII.  If.  atter  a  trial  before  any  court,  new 
testimony  be  discovered,  which  is  supposed 
to  be  highly  important  to  the  exculpation  of 
the  accused,  it  is  proper  lor  him  to  ask,  and 
for  the  court  to  grant,  a  new  trial. 

XIV.  If,  in  the  prosecution  of  an  appeal, 
new  t<  stimony  be  offered,  which,  in  the  judg- 
ment of  the  appellate  court,  has  an  importaut 
bearing  on  the  case,  it  shall  be  competent  for 
that  court  to  refer  the  cause  to  the  inferior 
court  lur  u  new  tiial ;  or,  with  the  consent  of 


THE    RULES  OP  DISCU'LTNE.  69 

parties,  to  take  the  testimony  and  proceed 
with  the  cause. 


CE AFTER  X. 

OF  THE  INFLICTION  OF  CHURCH  CENSURES. 

I.  Ecclesiastical  censures  ought  to  be  suited 
to  the  nature  of  the  oifeiice;  for  private  offences 
censures  should  be  administered  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  court  alone,  or  privatel}'",  by  one 
or  more  members  on  its  behalf;  but  for  pub- 
lic offence.*,  censures  should  be  administered 
in  open  session,  or  publicly  announced  to  the 
church.  When  there  are  peculiar  and  special 
reasons,  the  court  may  visit  public  offences, 
not  very  gross  in  their  character,  wiih  private 
admonition,  or  with  definite  suspension  in 
private ;  but  the  censure  of  indefinite  suspen- 
sion should  ordinarily  be  announced  to  the 
church,  whilst  those  of  excommunication 
and  deposition  should  be  either  administered 
before  the  church,  or  else  announced  to  it,  at 
the  discretion  of  the  court. 

II.  When  any  member  or  officer  of  the 
Church  shall  be  guilty  of  a  tault  deserving 
censure,  the  court  shall  proceed  with  all  ten- 
derness, and  shall  deal  with  its  off"ending 
brother  in  the  spirit  of  meekness,  the  mem- 
ber.- considering  themselves,  lest  they  also  be 
tempted. 

III.  The  censure  of  admonition  ought  to 
be  administered  in  private,  by  one  or  more 
member-,  in  behalf  of  the  court,  when  the  of- 
fence is  not  aggravated,  and  is  known  only  to 


?0  THE  RULK?  OP  DlSCll'LtyB. 

a  few.  When  the  scandal  is  public,  the  admo- 
nition shall  be  administered  by  the  Moderator 
in  the  presence  ot  the  court,  and  ordinarily 
shall  also  be  announced  in  public. 

IV.  Definite  suspension  beintranexemplai^ 
censure,  ou^ht  ordinarily  to  be  either  ad- 
ministered m  open  session,  or  announced  to 
the  church. 

V.  The  censure  of  indefinite  suspension 
ought  to  be  inrticted  with  irreat  solemnity, 
that  it  may  be  the  means  of  impressing  the 
mind  of  the  delinquent  wiih  a  proper  sense  of 
his  danger,  while  he  stands  excluded  from  the 
sacraments  of  t!  e  Church  of  the  living  God, 
and  that  with  the  Divine  blessing  it  may  lead 
him  to  repentance.  When  the  court  has  re- 
solved to  pass  this  sentence,  the  Moderator 
shall  address  the  offending  brother  to  the  fol- 
lowing- purpose  : 

"  VVhereas,  You,  A.  B.  (here  describe  the 
person  as  a  Minister,  Ruling  Elder,  Deacon, 
or  private  member  of  the  Church),  are  con- 
victed by  sufficient  proof  [or,  are  guilty  by 

your  own  confession],  of  the  sin  of (here 

insert  the  offence),  we,  the  Presbytery  [or 
church  Session]  of  C.  D.,  in  the  name  and  oy 
the  authority  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  do 
now  declare  you  suspended  from  the  sacra- 
ments of  the  Church  [and  from  the  exercise 
of  your  office],  until  you  give  satisfactory  ev- 
idence of  repentance.'' 

To  tliis  shall  be  added  such  advice  or  admo- 
nition as  may  be  judg<  d  necessary,  and  the 
whole  shall  be  concluded  \a  ith  pra>erto  Al- 
mighty (iod  that  He  would  follow  this  act  of 
dit^cipiine  with  His  blessing. 

VI.  When  the  seiitence  of  excommunica- 
tion has  been  regularly  passed,  the  Moderator 


tHU  RtJtES  OF  biSCIPLlNB.  71 

of  the  Session  shall  make  a  public  statement 
before  the  church  of  the  several  steps  which 
have  been  taken  with  respect  to  their  offend- 
ing brother,  and  inform  them  that  it  has  been 
found  necessarj'  to  cut  him  off  irom  the  com- 
munion ot  the  Church.  He  shall  then  show  the 
authority  of  the  Church  to  cast  out  unworthy- 
members,  from  Matt,  xviii:  15-18.  and  1  Cor. 
v:l-5.  and  shall  explahi  the  nature,  use  and 
consequence  of  This  censiu'e,  warning  tiie  peo- 
ple, that  they  are  to  conduct  themselves,  in  all 
their  intercourse  witli  him  as  is  proper  to- 
wards one  who  is  under  the  heaviest  censure 
ot  the  Church.  He  shall  then  pronounce  sen- 
tence to  the  follow  ing  eflect : 

"Whereas,  A  B.  a  member  of  this  church, 
has  been,  by  sufticient  proof,  convicted  of  the 

sin  of ,  and  after  much  admonition  and 

prayer,  obstinately  refuses  to  heartheChurch, 
and  has  maniftsted  no  evidence  of  repentance: 
Therefore,  in  the  name  and  by  the  authority 
ot  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  we,  the  Session  of 
the  church  of  C.  D.,  do  pronounce  him  to  be 
excluded  from  the  sacraments,  and  cut  off 
from  the  fellowship  of  thp  (  hurch." 

After  which  prayer  shall  be  made  that  the 
blessing  of  God  may  follow  His  ordinance,  for 
the  conviction  and  reformation  of  the  excom- 
municated, and  for  the  estabhshment  of  all 
true  believers. 

VII.  'Jhe  sentence  of  deposition  shall  be 
pronounced  by  the  Moderator,  in  words  of  the 
following  import : 

"  vVhereas,  a.  B..  a  Minister  of  this  Pres- 
bytery [or  a  Kuling  P:ider  or  [)eacon  of  this 
church],  has  been  proved,  by  sufficient  evi- 
dence, to  be  guilty  of  the  sin  of .  we, 

the  Presbytery  [or  Church  Session],  of  C.  D., 


72  THE  RtJLES  OP  DISCIPLINE. 

do  a(ljncl<?e  him  totally  disquniifiofl  for  the 
office  of  the  Christian  Ministry  [or  Eldership, 
or  Deaeonship],  and  therefore  we  do  hereby, 
in  the  name  and  by  the  authority  of  the  Lord 
Jesus  Christ,  depose  from  tlie  office  of  a  Chris- 
tian Minister  [or  Elder,  or  Deacon],  the  said 
A.  B.,  and  do  prohibit  him  from  exercising 
any  of  the  functions  thereof."  if  the  sentence 
include  suspension  or  excommunication,  the 
Moderator  shall  proceed  to  say :  '*  We  do 
moreover,  by  the  same  authority,  suspend 
the  said  A.  B.  from  the  sacraments  of  the 
Church,  until  he  shall  exhibit  satisfactory  evi- 
dence of  sincere  repentance,"  or  '*  exclude  the 
said  A.  B.  from  the  sacraments,  and  cut  him 
off  from  the  fellowship  of  the  Church." 

The  sentence  of  deposition  ought  to  be  in- 
fficted  with  solemnities  similar  to  those  al- 
ready prescribed  iu  the  case  of  excommuni- 
caiiou. 


CHAPTER  XL 


OP  THE  REMOVAL  OF  CENSURES. 

I.  After  any  person  has  been  suspended 
from  the  sacraments,  it  is  proper  that  the 
rulers  of  the  church  should  frequently  con- 
verse with  him,  as  well  as  pray  with  him.  and 
for  him,  that  it  would  please  God  to  give  him 
repentance. 

II.  When  the  court  shall  be  satisfied  as  to 
the  reality  of  the  repentance  of  a  suspended 
offender,  he  shall  be  admitted  to  profess  his 
repentance,  either  in  the  presence  of  the  court 


THE  Rm-ES   OF  DISCIPLINE.  73 

alone,  or  publicly,  and  be  restored  to  the  sac- 
raments of  the  (Jbiirch,  and  to  his  office,  if 
such  be  the  jud^iiiient  of  tlie  court,  which  re- 
sroration  shall  be  declared  to  the  penitent  in 
words  of  the  following  import : 

"VVhekeas,  You,  A.  B..  have  been  de- 
barred from  the  sacraments  of  the  Church 
[and  from  the  office  of  the  gospel  Ministry,  or 
Klder.^liip,  or  Deaconsliip],  but  have  now 
nianii.jsted  such  repentance  as  satisfies  the 
churcli,  we,  the  Session  (or  Pres^bytery)  of  C. 
D.,  do  hereby,  in  the  name  and  Ijy  the  author- 
ity of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  absolve  you  from 
the  said  sentence  of  suspension,  and  do  re- 
store you  to  tilt'  full  enjoyment  of  sealing  or- 
dinances, [and  tlie  exercise  of  your  said  office, 
and  ali  the  functions  tlureof,]" 

After  whicli  tliere  shall  be  prayer  and 
thanksgiving. 

IK.  When  an  excommunicated  person  sliall 
be  so  affected  with  his  >tate  as  to  be  brought 
to  repentance,  and  to  dr-sire  to  be  readmit; ed 
to  the  communion  of  the  Church,  the  Session, 
having  obtained  sufficient  evidenc^^  of  his  sin- 
cere p'-nitenc-,  sliall  proceed  to  restore  him. 
In  order  to  which,  the  presiding  Minister  shall 
inform  the  church  of  the  measures  which 
have  been  taken  with  the  excommunicated 
person,  and  of  the  resolution  of  the  Session 
to  restore  him. 

On  the  d-y  appointed  for  his  restoration, 
the  Minist'T  shall  call  upon  the  excommuni- 
cated person,  and  propose  to  him  in  the  pres- 
ence of  the  congregation  the  f>llo\\ing  ques- 
tions : 

"  Do  you  from  a  deep  sense  of  your  great 
wickedness,  freely  confess  your  sin  in  thus 
rebelling  against  God,  and  in  refusing  to  hear 


74  THE  RULES    OF  DTSCirLTNE. 

His  Church;  and  do  yrii  acknowledge  that 
you  have  been  in  justice  and  mercy  cut  off 
from  the  communion  ottlie  Churchy  Answer. 
— I  do.  Do  you  now  voluntarily  profess 
your  sincere  'repentance  and  contrition  for 
your  sin  and  obstinacy  :  and  do  you  humbly 
ask  the  forgiveness  of  God  and  His  Church"? 
Answer. — I  do.  Do  you  sincerely  proniise, 
through  divine  grace,  to  live  in  all  hum- 
bleness of  mind  and  circumspection  ;  and  to 
endeavor  to  adorn  the  doctrine  of  God  our 
Savior,  by  having  your  conversation  as 
becometh  the  gospel?    A7iswer.—l  do.'' 

Here  the  minister  shall  give  the  penitent  a 
suitable  exhortation,  encouraging  and  com- 
forting him.  Then  he  shall  pronounce  the 
sentence  of  restoration  in  the  following 
words  : 

"Whereas,  you,  A.  B.,  have  be^n  shut  out 
from  the  communion  of  the  Church,  but  have 
now  manifested  such  repentance  as  satisties 
the  Church  ;  in  the  name  of  the  I^ord  Jesus 
Christ,  and  by  His  authority,  we,  the  Session 
of  this  church,  do  declare  you  absolved  from 
the  sentence  of  excommunication  formerly 
denounced  against  you ;  and  we  do  restore 
you  to  the  communion  of  the  Church,  that 
you  may  be  a  partaker  of  all  the  benetits  of 
the  Lord  Jesus  to  your  eternal  salvation." 

The  whole  shall  be  concluded  with  prayer 
and  thanksgiving. 

IV.  The  restoration  of  a  deposed  officer, 
after  public  confession  has  been  made  in  a 
manner  similar  to  that  prescribed  in  the  case 
of  the  removal  of  censure  f  om  an  excommun- 
icated person,  shall  be  announced  to  him  by 
the  Moderator  in  the  tollowing  form,  viz  : 

<' Whereas,  you,  A.  B.,  formerly  a  Minister 


THE  RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE.  75 

of  this  Presbytery,  [or  a  Ruling  Elder  or 
Deacon  of  this  chinch,]  have  been  deposed 
from  3^our  othce,  but  have  now  manifested 
such  repentance  as  satisfies  the  Church  ;  in 
the  name  ot  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ,  and  by 
His  authority,  we,  the  Presbytery  of  C.  D., 
[or  the  Session  of  this  church.]  do  declare 
you  absolved  trora  the  said  sentence  of  depo- 
sition formerly  pronounced  aid^ainst  you ;  and 
we  do  furthermore  restore  you  to  your  said 
office,  and  to  the  exercise  of  all  the  functions 
thereof,  whenever  you  may  be  orderly  called 
thereto." 

After  which  there  shall  be  prayer  and 
thanksgiving,  and  the  members  of  the  court 
shall  extend  to  him  the  right  hand  of  fel- 
lowship. 

V.  When  an  Elder  or  Deacon  has  been 
absolved  from  the  censure  of  deposition,  he 
can  not  be  allowed  ;o  resume  the  exercis''  of 
his  oftice  in  the  church  without  re-election  by 
the  peop'e. 

Vi.  >Vhen  a  person  under  censure  shall 
remove  to  a  part  of  the  countr}'^  remote  from 
the  court  by  which  he  was  sentenced,  and 
shall  desire  to  profess  repentnnce  and  obtain 
restoration  it  shall  be  lawful  for  the  court, 
if  it  deem  ir  expedient,  to  transmit  a  certified 
copy  of  its  proceedings  to  the  Session  (or 
Prest»ytery)  where  ihe  delinquent  resides, 
which  shall  take  up  the  case,  and  proceed 
with  it  as  though  it  had  originated  with 
itself. 

VII.  In  proceeding  to  restore  a  suspended 
or  deposed  Minister,  it  is  the  duty  of  the  Pres- 
bytery to  exercise  great  caution  ;  first  admit- 
ting him  to  the  sacraments,  if  he  has  been 
^^baiTed  from  the  same,  afterwards  granting 


76  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINE. 

him  the  pnvile<?e  of  preaching  for  a  peason  on 
probation,  so  as  to  test  tlie"  sincerity  ol  his 
repentance  and  the  prospect  ofln's  iisefuhiess; 
and  finally  restoring  him  to  his  ofhcc  But 
the  case  shall  always  be  sub  judice  until 
the  sentence  of  restoration  has  been  pro- 
nounced. 


CHAPTER  Xri. 


OF  CASES   WITHOUT  PROCESS. 

I.  When  any  person  shall  come  forward 
and  make  his  offence  known  to  the  court,  a 
full  statement  of  the  facts  shall  be  recorded, 
and  judgment  rendered  without  process. 

II.  When  a  communicating  member  shall 
confess  before  the  church  Session  an  unie- 
generate  heart,  and  there  is  no  evidence  of 
other  offence,  the  court  may  transfer  his 
name  to  the  roll  of  non-communicating  mem- 
bers, and  he  shall  be  faithfully  warmd  of  his 
guilt  in  disobeying  the  gospel,  and  encour- 
aged 10  seek  the  redi  mption  freely  offered  in 
Christ ;  and  a  statement  of  the  case  sliall  be 
made  to  the  chin-ch.  But  tlii>t  action  shall 
not  be  taken  until  the  church  Session  has 
ascertaint'd,  after  mature  inquiry  and  due 
delay,  that  this  confession  does  not  result 
from  Satanic  teniptation  or  transient  dark- 
ness of  spirit.  This  rule,  however,  shall  not 
be  applied  to  those  who  wilfully  absent  them- 
selves from  the  Lords  tiible,  which  is  always 
an  offence. 

III.  A  Minister  of  the  gospel,  against  whom 


THE  RULES  OP  DTSCirLINE.  77 

there  are  no  charges,  if  fully  satisfied  in  his 
own  conscience  that  God  has  not  called  him 
to  the  ministry,  or  if  he  has  satisf  istory  evi- 
dence of  his  inability  to  serve  the  Church 
with  acceptance,  may  report  these  facts  at  a 
stated  meetintr.  At  the  next  stated  meetinof, 
if  after  full  deliberation  the  Presbytery  sluili 
concur  with  him  in  judgment,  it  may  divest 
him  of  his  office  without  censure,  and  shall 
assign  him  membership  in  some  particular 
church. 

IV.  When  a  member  or  officer  shall  re- 
nounce the  communion  of  this  Church  by 
ioiuing  some  other  evangelical  Church,  if  in 
good  standing,  the  irregularity  shall  be  re- 
corded, and  his  name  erased.  But  if  charges 
are  pending  against  him,  they  shall  be  com- 
municated to  theChurch  which  he  has  joined. 
If  the  denomination  be  heretical,  an  officer 
shall  have  his  name  stricken  from  the  roll, 
and  all  authority  to  exercise  his  office 
derived  from  this  Church  shall  be  withdrawn 
from  him ;  but  a  private  member  shall 
not  be  othei'wjse  noticed  than  as  above  pre- 
scribed. 


78  THE  RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE. 

CHAPTER  XIII. 

OP   THE    MODES    IN   WHICH   A  CAUSE    MAY   BK 

CARRIED  FROM  A  LOWER  TO  A 

HIGHER  COURT. 

I.  Every  decision  which  is  made  by  any 
church  court,  except  the  hiij-hest,  is  subj<'Ct 
to  the  review  of  a  superior  court,  and  may 
be  brought  before  it  by  genernl  review  and 
control,  reference,  appeal,  or  complaint. 

I[.  When  a  matter  is  transferred  in  any 
of  these  ways  from  an  inferior  to  a  superior 
court,  the  members  of  the  inferior  court  shall 
not  lose  their  right  to  .«it,  deliberate,  and  vote 
in  the  case  in  tlie  hiyher  courts,  except  that 
either  of  the  original  parties  may  challenge 
the  right  of  any  members  of  the  inferior 
court  to  sit,  which  question  shall  be  decided 
by  the  vote  of  all  those  members  of  the 
superior  court  who  are  not  members  of  the 
inferior. 

Section  I — Of  General  Review  and  Control, 

I.  It  is  the  duty  of  every  court  above  a 
church  Session,  at  lea*t  once  a  year,  to 
review  the  records  of  the  proceedings  of  the 
courts  next  below.  And  if  any  lower  court 
shall  omit  to  send  up  its  records  for  this  pur- 
pose, the  higher  court  may  issue  an  order  to 
proQUce  them,  either  immediately,  or  at  a 
particular  time,  as  circumstances  may  re- 
quire. 

II.  In  reviewing  the  records  of  an  inferior 
court,  it  is  proper  to  examine.  First,  Whether 
the  proceedings  have  been  constitutional  and 
regular  ;  Secondly,  Whether  they  have  been 
wise,  equitable,  and  for  the  edilication  of  the 


THE  RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE.  79 

Church ;  Thirdly^  Whether  they  have  been 
correctly  recorded;  Fourthly,  Whether  the 
lawful  injunctions  of  the  superior  courts  have 
been  obeyed. 

III.  In  most  cases  tlie  superior  court  may 
be  considered  as  fulfilling'  its  duty  by  simply 
recording  on  its  own  minutes  the  approval, 
the  correction  of  proceedings,  or  the  censure 
which  it  may  think  proper  to  pass  on  the 
records  under  review  ;  and  also  by  making 
an  entry  of  the  same  in  the  book  reviewed. 
But  should  any  irregular  proceedings  be  found 
such  as  demand  the  interference  ot  the  super- 
ior court,  the  inferior  court  may  be  required 
to  review  and  correct  them. 

IV.  In  cases  of  process,  however,  no  judg- 
ment of  an  inferior  court  shall  be  reversed, 
unless  it  be  regularly  brought  up  by  appeal 
or  complaint. 

V.  Courts  may  sometimes  entirely  neglect 
to  perform  their  dutj',  by  which  neglect  here- 
tical opinions,  or  corrupt  practices  may  be 
allowed  to  gain  ground ;  or  oflenders  of  a 
very  gross  character  may  be  suffered  to 
escape  ;  on  some  circumstances  in  their  pro- 
ceedings of  very  gi'eat  irregularity  may  not 
be  distinctly  recorded  by  them ;  in  any  of 
which  cases  their  records'  will  by  no  means 
exhibit  to  the  superior  court  a  full  view  of 
their  pr'^eeedings.  If,  therefore,  the  next 
superior  court  be  well  advised  tliat  any  such 
neglect  or  irregularity  has  occurred  on  the 
pare  of  the  inferior  court,  it  is  incumbent  on 
it  to  take  cognizance  of  the  sanae  and  to  exam- 
ine, deliberate  and  judge  in  the  whole  matter 
as  completely  as  if  it  liad  been  recorded, 
4nd  thus  brought  up  by  the  review  of  th© 
records. 


80  THE  RULES  OP  DISCrPLTNE. 

VI.  When  any  court  having  appellate  jur- 
isdiction shall  be  advised,  either  by  the  re- 
cords of  the  court  next  below,  or  by  me- 
morial, either  with  or  without  protest,  or  by 
any  othor  satisfactory  method,  of  any  impor- 
tant delinquency  or  grossly  unconstitutional 
proceedings  of  such  court,  the  first  step  shall 
be  to  cite  the  court  alleged  to  have  offended 
to  appear  by  representative  or  in  writing,  at 
a  specified  time  and  place,  and  to  show  what 
it  has  done  or  failed  to  do  in  the  case  in  ques- 
tion. The  court  thus  issuing  the  citation 
may  reverse  or  redress  the  proceedings  of  the 
court  below  in  other  than  judicial  cases ;  or  it 
may  censure  the  delinquent  court ;  or  it 
may  remit  the  whole  matter  to  the  delinquent 
court,  with  an  injunction  to  take  it  up  and 
dispose  of  it  in  a  constitutional  manner  ;  or  it 
may  stay  all  further  proceedings  in  the  case, 
as  circumstances  may  require. 

VII.  In  process  against  an  inferior  court, 
the  trial  shall  be  conducted  according  to  the 
rules  provided  for  process  against  individuals, 
so  far  as  they  may  be  applicable. 

Section  II. — Of  References. 

I.  A  reference  is  a  representation  of  a  mat- 
ter not  yet  decided,  made  by  an  inferior  to  a 
superior  com-t,  which  representation  ought 
always  to  be  in  writing. 

II.  Cases  which  are  new,  important,  diffi- 
cult or  of  peculiar  delicacy,  the  decision  of 
which  may  establish  principles  or  precedents 
of  extensive  influence  ;  on  which  the  senti- 
ments of  the  inferior  court  are  greatly  divided; 
or  on  wliich,  for  any  reason,  it  is  desirable 
that  a  superior  court  should  first  decide,  are 
proper  subjects  for  reference. 


THE  RULES  OF  DISCIPLINE.  81 

III.  References  are  either  for  mere  advice, 
preparatory  to  a  decision  by  the  inferior 
court ;  or  for  ultimate  decision  by  the  super- 
ior court. 

IV.  In  the  former  case,  the  reference  only 
suspends  the  decision  of  the  court  from  which 
it  comes  ;  in  the  latter,  it  submits  the  whole 
case  to  the  final  judg^ment  of  the  superior 
court. 

V.  Although  references  may,  in  some  cases, 
be  proper,  yet  it  is,  generally,  conducive  to 
the  good  ot  the  Church  that  every  court 
should  fulfil  its  duty  by  exercising  its  judg- 
ment. 

VI.  A  reference  ought,  generally,  to  pro- 
cure advice  Irom  the  superior  court,  yet  that 
court  is  not  bound  to  give  a  final  judgment, 
but  may  remit  the  whole  case,  either  with 
or  without  advice,  to  the  court  by  which  it 
was  referred. 

Vil.  Eeferences  by  any  court  are  to  be  made 
to  the  court  immediately  superior, 

VII r.  When  a  court  makes  a  reference,  it 
ought  to  have  all  the  testimony  and  other 
documents  duly  prepared,  produced,  and  in 
perfect  readiness,  so  that  the  superior  court 
may  be  able  to  consider  and  issue  the  case 
with  as  little  difficulty  or  delay  as  possible. 

Section  III, — Of  Appeals. 

I.  An  appeal  is  the  removal  of  a  cause, 
already  decided,  from  an  inferior  to  a  super- 
ior coui%  the  efiect  of  which  is  to  arrest  sen- 
tence until  the  matter  is  finally  decided.  It  is 
allowable  only  after  judgment  has  been  ren- 
dered, and  to  the  party  against  whom  the 
decision  has  been  rendered. 

II.  Those  who  have  not  submitted    to  a 


82  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLlNB. 

regular  trial  are  not  entitled  to  appeal. 

nr.  Any  irregularity  in  the  proceedinors  o( 
the  inferior  court;  a  refusal  ol  reasonable  indul- 
gence to  a  party  on  trial;  declining  to  receive 
important  testimony  ;  hurrying  to  a  decision 
before  the  testimony  is  Jully  taken;  a  mani- 
festation of  prejudice  in  the  cause;  and  mis- 
take or  injustice  in  the  judgment,  are  all  pro- 
per grounds  of  appeal. 

IV .  Every  appellant  is  bound  to  give  notice 
of  his  intention  to  appeal,  and  also  to  lay  the 
reasons  thereof  in  writing  before  the  court 
appealed  from,  either  before  its  rising  or 
within  ten  days  thereafter.  If  this  notice  oi 
these  reasons  be  not  given  to  the  court  while 
in  session,  they  shall  be  lodged  with  the  Mod- 
erator or  Clerk. 

V.  No  appeal  shall  be  carried  from  an 
inferior  to  any  other  court  than  the  one  imme- 
diately superior,  without  its  consent. 

VI.  The  appellant  shall  lodge  his  appeal, 
and  the  reasons  of  it,  with  the  Clerk  of  the 
higher  court  before  the  close  of  the  second 
day  of  its  sessions  ;  and  the  appearance  of  the 
appellant  and  appellee  shall  be  either  in  person 
or  by  writing. 

Yll.  In  taking  up  an  appeal,  after  ascer- 
taining that  the  appellant  on  his  part  has 
conducted  it  regularly,  the  first  stop  shall  be 
to  read  "the  record  of  the  cause;"  the  second, 
to  hear  the  parties,  first  the  appellant,  then 
the  appellee,  and  the  appellant  shall  close;  the 
third,  to  call  the  roll,  that  the  members  may 
express  their  opinion  in  the  cause  ;  and  then 
the  vote  shall  be  taken. 

VI  LI.  The  decision  may  be  either  to  confirm 
or  reverse,  in  whole  or  in  part,  the  judgment 
of  the  inferior  court ;  or  to  remit  the  cause 


THE  RULES    OF  DISCIPLINE.  83 

for  the  purpose  of  amending  the  record; 
should  ir  appear  to  be  incorrect  or  defective, 
or  for  a  new  trial. 

IX.  If  an  appellant,  after  entering  his 
appeal  to  a  superior  courr,  fail  to  prosecute 
it,  it  shall  be  considered  as  abandoned,  and 
the  judgment  appealed  from  shall  be  tinal. 
And" an  appellant  shall  be  considered  as  aban- 
doning his  app:  al  if  he  do  not  appear  before 
the  appellate  court  by  the  second  day  of  its 
meeting  next  ensuing  the  date  of  his  notice 
of  appeal,  unless  it  shall  appear  that  he  was 
prevented  by  the  providence  of  God  from  sea- 
sonably prosecuting  it. 

X.  Jf  an  appellant  is  found  to  manifest  a 
litigious  or  other  unchristian  spirit  in  the 
prosecution  of  his  appeal,  he  shall  be  cen- 
sured according  to  the  degree  of  his  offence. 

XI.  If  the  infliction  of  the  sentence  of  sus- 
pension, excommuuication  or  deposition  be 
arrested  by  appeal,  the  judgment  appealed 
from  shall  nevertheless  be  considered  as  in 
force  uutid  the  appeal  shall  be  issued. 

XII.  if  any  court  shall  negleot  to  send  up 
the  record  of  the  cause,  especially  if  thereby 
an  appellant  who  has  proceeded  with  regu- 
larity shall  be  deprived  of  ihe  privilege  of 
having  his  appeal  seasonably  tried,  it  shall  be 
censured  according  to  the  circumstances  of  the 
case,  and  thi- judgment  appealed  from  shall 
be  suspende^d  until  the  record  be  produced, 
upon  which  the  issue  can  be  fairly  tried. 

Section  IV. — Of  Complaints. 

I.  A  comp'aint  is  a  representation  made  to 
a  superior  court  against  an  inferior  court. 
Any  member  ot  the  Church,  submittin^to  its 
authority,  may  complain  against  every  species 


84  THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINE. 

©f  decision,  except  where  a  party,  against 
whom  a  decision  has  been  rendered,  takes 
his  appeal  against  it.  But  the  complaint  shall 
not  suspend,  while  pending,  the  effect  of  the 
decision  complained  of. 

II.  Notice  of  complaint  sliall  be  given  in  the 
same  form  and  time  as  notice  of  appeal. 

III.  The  parties  to  a  complaint  shall  be 
denominated  complainant  and  respondent ; 
and  the  latter  shall  be  the  court  against  which 
the  comi)laint  is  taken.  After  tlie  superior 
court  has  ascertained  that  the  complaint  is 
regular,  its  tirst  step  shall  be  to  read  "the 
record  '  of  the  case;  its  second,  to  hear  the 
complainant;  its  third,  to  hear  the  respondent 
by  its  representative ;  its  fourth,  to  hear  the 
comphiinant  again  ;  and  then  it  shall  consider 
and  decide  the  case. 

IV.  The  superior  court  has  discretionary 
power  either  to  annul  any  portion  or  the 
whole  of  the  decision  complained  of.  or  to 
send  it  back  to  the  inferior  court  with  instruc- 
tions for  a  new  hearing. 

V.  The  court  against  which  complaint  is 
taken  is  bound  to  send  up  its  records  in  the 
case,  as  liereinbefore  provided. 


CHAPTER  XIV. 


OF  DISSENTS  AND  PROTESTS. 

I.  A  dissent  is  a  declaration  on  the  part  of 
one  or  more  members  of  a  minority  in  a 
court,expressin^  a  different  opinion  from  that 
of  the  majority  in  a  particular  case.    A  dis- 


THE  RULES  OP  DISCIPLINE.  S5 

sent  unaccompained    with  reasons  shall  be 
entered  on  the  records  of  the  court. 

II.  A  protest  is  a  more  solemn  and  formal 
declaration  by  members  of  a  minority  bearing 
th(  ir  testimony  acjainst  what  they  deem  a 
mischievous  or  erroneous  judgment,  and  is 
generally  accompanied  with  a  detail  of  the 
reasons  on  which  it  is  founded. 

III.  If  a  protest  or  dissent  be  couched  in 
temperate  language,  and  be  respectful  to  the 
court,  it  shall  he  recorded;  and  the  court  may, 
if  deemed  necessar}^  put  an  answer  to  the 
protest  on  the  records  along  with  it.  But 
here  the  matter  shall  end,  unless  the  parties 
protesting  obtain  permission  to  withdraw 
their  protest  absolutely,  or  for  the  sake  of 
amendment. 

IV.  None  can  join  in  a  protest  against  a 
decision  of  any  court,  except  those  who  had 
a  right  to  vote  in  the  case. 


CHAPTER  XV. 

OFJURISDICTION. 

I.  When  any  member  shall  remove  from 
one  clmrch  to  another,  he  shall  produce  satis- 
factory testimonials  of  his  church-member- 
ship and  dismis-ion  before  he  be  admitted  as 
a  regular  member  of  that  congregation,  unless 
the  church  Session  has  other  satisfactory 
means  of  information. 

II.  VVlien  a  church  member  or  officer  shall 
remove  his  resid'Mce  beyond  the  bounds  of 
the  court  to  whose  jurisdiction  he   belongs 


86  THE  RULES  OF  IMSCIPLTNB. 

into  the  bounds  of  another,  it  he  shall  noglect 
for  twelve  months,  without  satisfactory  rea- 
gons  given  to  both  these  courts,  to  transfer 
his  ecclesiastical  relations,  the  court  whose 
bounds  he  has  It^ft  shall  be  required  to  trans- 
fer them.  And  should  that  court  neglect 
this  duty,  the  one  into  whose  bounds  he  has 
removed  shall  assume  jurisdiction,  giving  due 
notice  to  the  other  body. 

III.  Members  of  one  chui'ch  dismissed  to 
^oin  another  shall  be  held  to  be  under  the 
jurisdiction  of  the  Session  dismissing  them,  till 
they  form  a  regular  connection  with  that  to 
which  tliey  have  been  dismissed. 

IV.  If  the  residence  of  a  communicating 
member  be  unknown  for  three  years,  he  shall 
be  retired  upon  a  separate  roll  until  he  shall 
reappear  and  give  satisfaction  ;  of  which  due 
record  shall  be  made. 

V.  When  a  Presbj^tery  shall  dismiss  a  min- 
ister, probationer  or  candidate,  the  name  of 
the  Presbyterj'^  to  which  he  is  dismissed  shall 
be  given  in  the  certificate,  and  he  shall  remain 
under  the  jurisdiction  of  the  Presbytery  dis- 
missing him,  until- received  by  the  other. 

VI.  No  certificate  of  dismission,  from  either 
a  Session  or  a  Presbytery,  shall  be  valid  testi- 
mony of  good  standing  for  a  longer  period 
than  one  year,  unless  its  earlier  presentation 
be  hindered  by  some  providential  cause ;  and 
such  certificates  given  to  persons  who  have 
left  the  bounds  of  the  Session  or  Presbytery 
granting  them,  shall  certify  the  standing  of 
such  persons  only  to  the  time  of  their  leaving 
those  bounds. 


B     000  002  450     5 


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